guitar

Jewish Tiger Mother

A few years ago, I read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, curious about the controversy author Amy Chua was stirring. I was intrigued by the chapter where Chua pushes her child to practice "Little White Donkey" on the piano to perfection, despite how fiercely her daughter fought to quit, convinced that she couldn't play it.

I felt like Chua was really being a bully, threatening her with the loss of beloved toys, food, bathroom breaks and holiday presents. I thought she'd smother her daughter's love of music.

Sons of a Spaz

My elementary school days were not idyllic. I was called many things, but "spaz" was amongst the most popular. Kids called me this because I was, well, a spaz. I didn't stand up for myself. I cried in the bathroom often. I took whatever friendship handouts I could get.

These experiences deeply inform my parenting. Over the years I have coached the boys to speak up for themselves, like what they like, be who they are and don't apologize for it. When my advice was helpful and one of the kids found success on the playgound, it almost felt like a success for my timid younger self.