Changes, How do we make them?

[Paisleegreen]

It is good to see you J! I was wondering how you were doing as well. I know that going through things in storage can be hard to do. I ventured outside to see what is blooming and what a fallen tree had damaged. But I was able to rescue some favorite plants of mine and replant them. So that felt good. I hope things go well with your daughter. Paislee

[Loveslife]

Oh, it is so nice and calming hearing from you and being here.
Tina, I actually have been busy with work. You will be proud to know that I am getting more day shifts and even the president stopped in to tell me that I'm doing an excellent job. I feel really proud about my work, and will be working my first midnight -8am shift tomorrow, alone. That is very hard.

I messed up. I went back to that site because I like to keep a diary there, and I love the music posts. I can't handle it though. I start to offer support, and think I'm stronger then I am. I get triggered too easily. Yes, I will keep it light with Julie. She wants to show me her new kitchen table that her boyfriend made her.

Tina, you are the BEST mother.

Paisley, it's nice to hear from you, and I'm glad you got outside today to clean up. Tending to your yard is such good, hard work.
I'll be back more often. ( I got special permission to have my iPad at work, as I've put it to good use looking up hospice centers, etc). I'll drop you a hello from my lonely post tomorrow, and tell you more about what I do.

Until then, I cannot offer much support, but I'm grateful for yours. ( I thought I was stronger)
J.

[tina martin]

Was I fishing for that compliment? Hope not. You know that tiger mom with her book? Saw her on Charlie Rose. She almost had me convinced, but then my brain returned. Is competition what it is all about? I'd get an F in her book.

J, how outstanding re work. One night shift is manageable, you'll be fine alone. Knew you'd get more day shifts; knew you'd be excellent at work. Here's an idea. Maybe you could try to start a thread, something like Share your Thoughts or, simply, Dear Diary. Your Diary might inspire others to anyone's well being. What can happen? Not much that can't be corrected it seems to me. Cheers to everyone's health.

[Paisleegreen]

That's great, j! Yippee, you get to have some day shifts and you get to use your IPAD! I'm so happy for you.
I've been to the other site and I find it too busy, not sure if it is busy visually for me or a lot more "traffic" goes there. I don't know many of the people there either. But that doesn't mean I won't go back. I've just been busy on here and at home. Many things going on in April. Actually, I've been sick, I forgot about that for a moment! So you guys are good for me.

Tina, what story about the Tiger Mom? Are you talking about Tiger the golfer and his mother or a Real Tiger Mom?

Have a good evening and a good night! Paislee

[tina martin]

Can't remember the title, but think the author's name is Amy Chou (spelling?). Her book was reviewed everywhere and is a bestseller. Believe it was on the cover of Time.

[SoWhatif]

Here is the biased view from the Times.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article ... 13,00.html

[Loveslife]

You guys make me laugh!!
Biased is right, but if Tina says she enjoys the book, that's a good enough review for me.
Have a great day everyone.

[Paisleegreen]

After reading the Time Review, now I get Tina's joke about getting an "F" on her parenting skills. I guess the focus was competition as the priority by the Tiger Mom. Since I haven't read the book. I think it would bother me some if I did. All I know is that China is buying up our land so I am concerned about that. Not concerned over a Chinese family that values America, it is the Chinese government values that I don't want in America.

I would have to say that the Chinese are competitive, they've had a rough life. They don't allow one to raise themselves up. My brother went to China one time to look at their hotels. They weren't clean like the way most of our hotel standards consider as being clean. Because of their way of keeping everyone down and no better than the other person, that has kept their hotel standards down and keep Americans from wanting to go there.

We are use to having trash picked up, bathrooms maintained, and if there are repairs to be made such as torn carpet or linoleum worn down, we expect these things to be fixed up. So it is competition for one's business that brings on expected standards.
I would rather pay a little bit more at a motel or hotel if I know that I can expect a certain level of cleanliness and comfort to be met.

So China's mothers know that if they are to survive their children must be better than the American children. This is their ticket out of poverty. Okay, do I sort of have the story line accurate about Tiger Mom.

I, for one, would not make my child practice for hours on end unless they have a passion for it and want to. My Grandmother use to have to lock up the family's piano because my Aunt would not stop playing! She wouldn't get her chores done.
She became a piano teacher and her children are gifted in music as well. It was a fun house to visit and listen to them sing and play all kinds of instruments. My Aunt is far from strict and always can tell a good story and make you feel wanted.
Along with her children. Her husband was very nice but very quiet, for they fit each other. He supported her musical interests and he was her rock. The boy cousins all are musical and outgoing, the daughter is quiet like her father. It must be a firstborn thing. Paislee

[Loveslife]

I agree with you 100 percent Paislee, re: China. I have never been, but they are extremely competitive and I feel they have a desire to take over our country, if not the world.
My nephew on the other hand LOVES China, and is fluent in Chinese Mandarin. He loves the culture. I do agree with you about their cleanliness habits, from what I've seen of the Chinese in our country.
The age of China, and their beliefs as far as spirituality fascinate and interest me.
Great post.

[tina martin]

I never read the book and don't intend to, just knew about it from some reviews and seeing her. She definitely would look down on my attitude toward parenting and that was my point.

In fact, she sort of represents the current out of control (in my view) emphasis on testing and test scores. Scrap art and music and phys ed and health and libraries and teach to tests. Period. Pit teacher against teacher based on test scores. I don't get it. Or maybe it's too late for me. Good night, dear friends.