How do you encourage your children to truly excel?
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I am a parent of 2 young children and am a 2nd generation Asian-American.
My parents came to the US as grad students and set very high expectations to excel academically. This "strong" encouragement was often delivered with fear and guilt. Discipline was ingrained in everything we did (including things we did not want to do - piano/violin lessons). Through it, I learned that not everything that has to be done is going to be pleasant.
With my children, I have taken a 180-degree philosophy. "Doing your best" is encouraged, but achievement is not explicitly communicated. My children have a very strong sense of self with no fear or guilt (opposite of my childhood - weak sense of self and lots of guilt).
As with all things, there are pluses/minuses to all approaches. So my question to TwitterMoms, is how do you encourage achievement/discipline but maintain a strong sense of self/confidence?
My parents came to the US as grad students and set very high expectations to excel academically. This "strong" encouragement was often delivered with fear and guilt. Discipline was ingrained in everything we did (including things we did not want to do - piano/violin lessons). Through it, I learned that not everything that has to be done is going to be pleasant.
With my children, I have taken a 180-degree philosophy. "Doing your best" is encouraged, but achievement is not explicitly communicated. My children have a very strong sense of self with no fear or guilt (opposite of my childhood - weak sense of self and lots of guilt).
As with all things, there are pluses/minuses to all approaches. So my question to TwitterMoms, is how do you encourage achievement/discipline but maintain a strong sense of self/confidence?
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