“You can’t be a tiger mom if you’re not Chinese.”
Overheard while dissertating:
Young mom-to-be # 1: I think Aaron and I will be all set. We’ve discussed what our respective roles will be as parents. We’ve also been reading parenting books. I know she got, like, criticized by the press, but I totally love the way Amy Chua raised her daughters. I am so going to be a tiger mom.
Young mom-to-be # 2: I love her! She set boundaries and now her kids go to Yale. That’s good, right? I am also going to be a tiger mom.
(Silence)
Young mom-to-be # 2: What?
Young mom-to- be # 1: Um, not to state the obvious, but you can’t be a tiger mom.
Young mom-to-be # 2: What? Why not?
Young mom-to-be # 1: You have to be Chinese to be a tiger mom.
Young mom-to-be # 2: Seriously?
Young mom-to-be # 1: Yeah. Maybe you can be camel mom. That makes more sense cause you’re Persian.
***
As a good friend, E2, is fond of saying: I have no words.
