Am I doing it all wrong (reflections on 'superior Chinese mothers'- see previous post)?

It never fails that the moment you read about someone else's parenting, you wonder- even if only briefly, whether or not they're already doing something that you should be doing. Such was the case this evening as I read an interesting article about the difference between stereo-typical Chinese mothers and the average 'Western' type mother. (posted as an entry before this one so you can read if for yourself)

As I read the article, I really began to wonder if maybe there was something to be said for having high expectations for your kids. But then I wondered where are those kids' hearts in relation to Christ? Then I wondered if I was just using that as an excuse to not require more of my children (considering myself lucky if I get a 15 min guitar practice out of my oldest without any tears/melt-downs, never mind 2 - 3 hrs!). I wonder how you could have more than one kid in order to devote that much time to making them strive for perfection?

Maybe, as with everything, there is a fine balancing line that needs to be walked. Ultimately, all their perfection will only get them a one-way ticket to hell. Talk about the biggest failure you could have- the final that cannot be passed by human means, no matter how much practice you put in. Maybe that is why the Chinese people seem to have one of the most fruitful harvest fields right now- they're tired of striving for a perfection that they can never attain. In the wise words of Syndrome from the movie The Incredibles, "I'll make everyone a superhero- and then nobody will be special anymore" (or something like that). When everyone is striving for perfection than that is the new normal- standing out is almost out of reach.

But in the end, God will not look at all the hours that were put into studying/practicing/etc. and let them in for doing their best. Even if it is for doing works in God's kingdom- for He says that not all who say 'lord, lord' will enter the kingdom. Only those whom He knows and know Him on an intimate level.

Do I want my kids to succeed? I would love it if they did! Do I need to push them a bit harder and expect more of them? Definitely! But at the end of the day, as a christian, the real question that I need to be able to say yes to is 'are my children closer to God today than they were yesterday'? Lord willing the answer will be yes!