I have a confession: I am not a Tiger mom. Not even close. Maybe like a Feral Cat mom, if the feline family is your thing. It takes a lot for me to get angry, usually. Obviously there can be mitigating factors like how the rest of the day has gone, but usually I’m pretty mellow. I put my foot down about grades, but I try not to be as hard as my parents were with me. That stuff stayed with me well into college. It’s more important that they try their hardest and understand the material. I’m also a stickler about them not eating junk food and drinking soda regularly and playing at least one sport per season. But the occasional candy bar and soda isn’t going to be their demise, and we have missed a few seasons here and there cause of other obligations.

I did realize today that I needed to be stricter about music practice. I’m asking for an hour a day, which seems completely reasonable to me, but I have a feeling I’ll be lucky to get it. Music will be another thing I put my foot down about. The kids are required to pick an instrument starting in 4th grade, which I think is an awesome requirement in a time that many schools are cutting out art and music. By Junior High, it becomes optional in the school, but not with me. I’m sure I’ll hear plenty of grumbles about it, but they’ll thank me later when they’re older for not letting them quit. I’m not expecting them to become symphony musicians or anything; just well-rounded.