Book Report: 100 Sentences Parents Shouldn’t Say to their Children
Quoting a former colleague, "Kids are crazy, man... they crazy."[sic]Childhood takes on a unique spirit in Beijing, where most kids are products of one-child households. They are what's called the 'little emperors', a term meant to evoke both the doting they receive from parents and the spoiled attitude that results from being an only child.
A new book has been published that apparently compiles the most common things Chinese parents tell their child; the author then offers Dr. Phil-like advice to thwart it. Here are some samples (from sinosplice.com; the characters might appear wonky in places, but you're not here to learn Chinese now are you?)
This is the response given to kids who ask where they came from. I got this from my mom once, and then later my older sister fooled me into thinking I was an accident.
This one's a classic Asian mom sentence. Luckily, mine is half-Filipino so she mixed it up with some Catholic snark (as in, 'Oh don't you worrry about me, I'll be fine...all fine and alone when you're gone...')
This one's pretty rough.
There are 96 other phrases that leaves our little emperor (or empress) saddled with enough guilt to keep a gaggle of shrinks happy (and rich). Let's hope the cheesy book advice is actually good. *end*
posted by JDW @ 12.7.06
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