Tiger Daughter

033-2002-4

She stood tall for a kindergartener in her new, thick, purple-flowered winter coat and clean, white and pink sparkly gym shoes. Black hair peeked out the side of her hood. She spoke clearly and comfortably; I could easily have mistaken her for a 2nd grader. Recess was in full swing but she came up to talk with me. I was guarding the school door, letting little people slip in to go to the bathroom. Apparently I was also standing near a locked storage shed with art supplies, but I did not know the combination since I was subbing. She opened the conversation.

“My mother’s a doctor.”

“That’s great. What kind of doctor is she?”

“She makes medicines to help people all over the world.”

“That’s wonderful. She must feel very good about that.”

“Yes. Do you know how to get the art supplies?”

“No, I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“I like to do art.”

“I like to do art, too. Maybe you will be an artist.”

“I am going to be a doctor like my mother.”

I smiled at her and nodded.

“That’s a wonderful plan.”

We talked for awhile longer before some other kids came up and started to run and chase each other near me, laughing in the near-freezing Midwestern air. She joined them. They ran around me while I every so often cautioned kids to slow down so no knees got skinned.

Eduhonesty: I think “LouAnne” probably will be a doctor like her mom. I bet her mom is not encouraging her to pursue a career in the arts, either. She may actively take art and piano classes, but mom will push LouAnne toward a profession like medicine. I have known Tiger Moms. I had a long discussion with one outside a music school where my daughter studied piano. In the end, we agreed that three hours of practice each night was definitely too much. Her girlfriend should not make that son practice so hard. One hour was enough. My own girl did 45 minutes, but my companion seemed clear that one hour had to be the minimum.

In support of Tiger Moms, as I looked at that cute, flowered, five-year-old girl, I’d have put real money on her medical admission school in the future. She may well become an accomplished artist and pianist as well. Tiger Moms tend to raise Tiger Daughters.

We sometimes express concern over whether making students do homework is “too much.” I managed to do my homework. Generations of students managed that homework. LouAnne will do her homework, I’m sure. She will probably agonize over any B grades or even low A grades. Will we be putting too much pressure on LouAnne? Probably not. That depends on LouAnne, and the girl makes a marvelous first impression.

In the most likely scenario I see, LouAnne will someday have a little daughter who will be telling the substitute proudly, “My mother is a doctor.”