Response to Chinese Mother article

 In the article "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" by Amy Chua, she said:

Second, Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything. The reason for this is a little unclear, but it's probably a combination of Confucian filial piety and the fact that the parents have sacrificed and done so much for their children. (And it's true that Chinese mothers get in the trenches, putting in long grueling hours personally tutoring, training, interrogating and spying on their kids.) Anyway, the understanding is that Chinese children must spend their lives repaying their parents by obeying them and making them proud.
Third, Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their children and therefore override all of their children's own desires and preferences. That's why Chinese daughters can't have boyfriends in high school and why Chinese kids can't go to sleepaway camp. It's also why no Chinese kid would ever dare say to their mother, "I got a part in the school play! I'm Villager Number Six. I'll have to stay after school for rehearsal every day from 3:00 to 7:00, and I'll also need a ride on weekends." God help any Chinese kid who tried that one.

          After reading this, I can see some of these characteristics in my own mom, but I don't feel that this is completely true. In my view, Amy Chua is a crazy mother trying to make all Chinese mother look bad. This is really stereotypical because first of all, kids don't owe their parents everything. Of course kids should owe their parents something, they don't need to dedicate their entire adult life giving back to their parents. I also don't think that kids are raised to obey their parents' every command. Kids have their own choice and free will, if they have to obey everything, then why not just have a robot by your side. Although Chinese parents are strict, it is for the safety of their child that they won't grow up acting like a deliquent. I think that Amy seriously exaggerate many of these things. I do agree that Chinese motehrs are seriously strict but the kids still have freedom. Parents only expect As from their kid and from how I see it with other Chinese mothers, the mothers will let their kids do ANYTHING as long as they maintain a perfect A.
          Moreover, I don't think that parents know what's best for their kids and that they can override their kids' desire and preference. No one knows what's best for others, even if they are their parents. Only the individuals can decide what's best for them. I do agree with Chua that kids and parents owe each other but not for life and not because of the parental relationship. A child and the parent can owe each other on other issues but if it's like how Chua describes it, I don't think that "owe" is the correct term. I think that parents push their kids and support them out of love for their kids to live a happy life and kids take care of their parents who are in their old age out of love. I don't think that it should be owing each other. This should be caring for each other out of love for each other's safety.