Accepting children for who they are and respecting their decisions are what gives “Western” parenting an edge over the “Chinese” method. In “My Own Tiger Mother,” author Yen-Yen Gao describes how stressing academic accomplishment and overriding kids' personal preferences is good for them in the long run. While this tactic may very well produce a straight A student, it fails to recognize the limits of academic knowledge. Scholastic information does not teach social skills, creativity, or independent thinking, nor does it guarantee the child a successful future or even their compliance.

Kids should be allowed to make their own life choices. After all, job satisfaction is statistically more important than money. Furthermore, constantly drilling school subjects is no way to spend a childhood that spans a quarter of a person's lifetime. Parents should instead acknowledge their kids' individuality, support their interests, and provide them with unconditional love regardless of how they may turn out.