Both of my girls have very high self-esteem because they were both able to master certain things; I should think that's good for their confidence.

My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their future. For the most part, I trust them to make the right choices for themselves. I always look forward to seeing them, and I love just watching them sleep. What a great relationship.

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

The Chinese model calls for giving your kids very little choice - and I've come to see that you can go too far with that. On the other hand, I also believe that Western parents sometimes give their young kids too much choice.

When I'm not the Tiger Mom, I'm a professor at Yale Law School, and if one thing is clear to me from years of teaching, it's that there are many ways to produce fabulous kids. I have amazing students; some of them have strict parents, others have lenient parents, and many come from family situations that defy easy description.

Never complain or make excuses. If something seems unfair, just prove yourself by working twice as hard and being twice as good.

I do play tennis, but I don't really like competition. I'm supposed to be so intense, but I hate competition.