A Western upbringing tends to stress questioning authority, which is always asking why, why, why.

Instilling a sense of self-discipline and focus when the kids are younger makes it so much easier by the time they get into high school.

Don't assume your child is weak. If you, the parent, assume that they can't take anymore, what kind of signal are you sending them?

I see my upbringing as a great success story. By disciplining me, my parents inculcated self-discipline. And by restricting my choices as a child, they gave me so many choices in my life as an adult. Because of what they did then, I get to do the work I love now.

Happiness is not always through success. Equally, the constant pursuit of success is sure unhappiness. But we have to find the balance. My own thoughts are that parenting is very personal. And we all feel enormous insecurity about parenting. What are they going to think of us 20 years down the line?

There's nothing better for building confidence than learning you can do something you thought you couldn't.

What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. pg 29