The Golden Rule

The blogosphere has been abuzz with the debate on parenting styles sparked by the Wall Street Journal’s article excerpt from Yale law professor, Amy Chua’s book, “The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”. Among the many articles in response, this one by Paul Buchheit struck a chord. We think the debate is a good thing – at the very least, it shakes us out of our automated everyday routine and makes us examine our own parenting values. The heart of the debate is centered around the two parenting styles pitted against each other in Prof Chua’s book – the strict, parents-know-what’s-best-for-kids style that is often found in the eastern cultures and the permissive, kids-owe-their-parents-nothing style that is more prevalent in western cultures. Now, we at Glo won’t take sides, not just because we recognize that there is merit to both styles, but also because we think that parenting is not a rigid, one-size-fits-all glove. We are all well-meaning parents and we want the best for our children. However, each child is unique and what works well for one child might not work for another. Some thrive in fluid, unrestrictive settings while others require a more disciplined environment with well-marked boundaries . Our task as parents is to recognize these differences and provide each child with their personalized environment that allows them to be their best self. And through it all, keep the Golden Rule always in mind – Treat others as you wish to be treated. Happy parenting!