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

I was raised, myself, by extremely strict but also extremely loving Chinese immigrant parents. To this day, I believe that their having high expectations for me, coupled with love, was the greatest gift that anyone's ever given me. And so that's why, even though my husband is not Chinese, I try to raise my own two daughters the same way.

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.

But just because you love something, I added to myself, doesn't mean you'll ever be great. Not if you don't work. Most people stink at the things they love.

All decent parents want to do what's best for their children. The Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that.

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.

There are all kinds of psychological disorders in the West that don't exist in Asia.