Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

The chapter begins with a description of the family’s first pets: two rabbits that Chua despised, who eventually “escaped” (78). The family’s new dog, Coco, is a Samoyed who was the smallest in her litter. Chua has high expectations for the dog since many Samoyeds are famous for their amazing accomplishments. Chua takes the lead in Coco’s training, applying the same rigor she uses in raising her daughters. However, Coco does not respond to Chua’s intensive training, and Chua is disappointed to learn that Samoyeds are not in the top ranking of intelligent dogs. She is not daunted and sees Coco’s stubbornness as a challenge for her to overcome.

Chua wants her daughters to be worldly, so the family travels extensively to nearly every continent. Even while on vacation, however, Chua insists that her daughters practice their instruments every day: Lulu brings her violin, and Chua goes to great lengths to find a piano where Sophia can practice. Even though Chua’s strict guidelines mean that the family often misses out on enriching experiences abroad, Chua stands by her decisions and hopes that her daughters will appreciate it later on.