In 2011, Amy Chua wrote a highly controversial, bestselling book called “The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”.  In this book, she coined the term, “tiger mom,” which has become a household terminology which describes “A strict or demanding mother who pushes her children to high levels of achievement, using methods regarded as typical of childrearing in China and other parts of East Asia.”  In her book, Chua explains her style of parenting, where she lays out strict rules that her daughters must live by.  The ultimate tiger mom goal is for her daughters to be the best at what they do.  Chua bases this off of a traditional Chinese style of parenting, in which children are always expected to succeed to the utmost.  Now the term is used loosely, and parents are known as tiger moms, regardless of ethnicity.

Now let’s determine if you have a tiger mom.  Take this quiz below to find out:

10 Ways to Tell if You Have a Tiger Mom

How do you know if you have a tiger mom?  Take this self-administered quiz.  Give yourself one point for every yes.

1. Extra credit is no longer “extra,” but mandatory.
2. Your parent checks Aeries every couple of hours.  
3. Your parent compares your grades to your siblings, cousins, friends, neighbors, and eventually kids they’ve never met.
4. Your parent believes spelling bees, science fairs, speech and debate, and chess are legitimate sports and mandatory activities.
5. After school, you go to another school (AKA Kumon, Sylvan, etc.)
6. Somehow, your parent finds a way to make everything educational.  (e.g. During your last trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, you were asked to find the degree and slope of Xcelerator.)
7. Your mom carries a portable desk and desk lamp in her mini-van.
8. Your Christmas and birthday presents consist of educational software, books, encyclopedias, and/or atlases.  
9. Your parent strives for perfection.  A=average, B=below average, C=a word that rhymes with wrap, D=“Don’t come home”, and F=funeral.
10. According to your parent, every bad grade leads to your ultimate demise, eventual homelessness, and inevitable destitution.

0-3 points: A kitty mom.

4-6 points: A cub mom.

7-10 points: A tiger mom.  Lucky you!