Amy Chua Parenting

Having just conducted a study with a diverse pool of American mothers and as a mother to two daughters and one son -- I know that mothering today is much more nuanced than Ms. Chua's experience.

The notion of encouraging kids to push past easy doesn't bother me. Nor do I think we harm them by requiring them to do things they don't feel like doing. But I do maintain that parents should motivate their kids to stretch a little.

This storyline is no longer about a Chinese-American mother and her parenting style. This narrative has exposed a raw nerve about the current zeitgeist of parenting and how best to raise our children in 21st-century America.

So, what is it? Being cruel for the "sake of our children's success" or being kind for the "sake of their psyche?" Do we have a right or wrong here?

Is there room for two strong-minded parents with two different styles of parenting? What is the quality of the parents' relationships and how do they affect the young eyes watching?

Being a parent forced me to often interact with people I would not have dealt with otherwise. And this brought the single best moments of all -- people will surprise you.

In a culture of parenting that is sorely lacking that kind of conviction, I think all parents can learn a few things about raising their children from this Tiger Mom.

I thought this week I would put my head in the lion's mouth -- or more accurately, into the tiger's mouth -- and add my voice to the chorus of cheers and jeers directed toward the Tiger Mother.

Chua's story both mesmerized and appalled me. Reading it is like driving past a horrific car accident and wondering whether anyone survived.

What is the most important in our parenting? What do we want for children? Is it success? Is it happiness? Is it something else?

If you want to make people a little upset, say something mean about their husband. If you want to make them angry, pick on their pets. If you want them to attack you from all sides, criticize their parenting.