When I first started Motherly Notes, people started calling me “THE” Tiger Mom.
I laughed.
Did you know I’m the youngest of three girls? The one who always woke up late, had the messiest room, and got nagged at all the time? That was me.
But somewhere along the way, I became the responsible one. The hardworking one. And then... I got tagged as a Tiger Mom.
Say WHAT?!
Honestly, I didn’t know what to make of it until I started this online school. When I began rapping in Chinese with kids and just having plain fun, I remembered who I was on the inside again. That carefree person who cracked jokes, danced around, and didn’t always need to be “proper.”
Launching Motherly Notes helped me find my soul again.
After working in finance and grinding through business school, my fun side got buried. But in the classrooms, in this wild, joy-filled space we built, I got to be me again.
Let’s Clear One Thing Up About Tiger Moms
Yes, I have high standards for my own kids.
Yes, I expect respect.
Yes, I expect them to follow through.
But no, I’m not the traditional “Chinese mom” who nags, yells, and micromanages every move. I know that kind of parenting doesn’t stick. Ever see those kids go off to college, go wild with freedom, and crash and burn? Yeah. We’ve all seen it.
When I was growing up, I had summers full of meaning. But here’s the kicker, I chose those things. No one forced me.
That gave me a sense of purpose. I wanted to do things. That’s what I want for my own children, and for yours too.
So… What Is Summer For?
To me, summer is a time to catch up or create.
Sometimes you need rest. Sometimes you need a challenge. And sometimes, you need to do something so out of your comfort zone that you might just pee your pants.
Yes, throw them into that hard Chinese class.
Yes, sign them up for that new sport where they might not be the best.
Yes, let them stand in front of a crowd and stutter and sweat and learn.
That’s what summer is for. Becoming someone new.
Breaking the “No Pain, No Gain” Myth in Chinese Learning
When I launched Motherly Notes, I had one mission.
Break away from the old idea that learning Chinese has to be painful.
Some Chinese moms still think there’s no gain without pain.
I beg to differ.
We’ve had parents DM us, confused, saying:
“My kid is laughing too hard in class. Are they even learning?”
“They were bouncing off the walls!”
“Wait — they picked up a Chinese book on their own?”
Yup. They are learning. They’re thriving.
I remember one mom panicked when her son started in September: “He understands nothing! Class is too fast!”
I said: Chill.
If he already knew everything, why come to class?
Give him time. Give him space. Give him the environment to figure it out.
Our classes are rooted in research. We don’t teach linearly. We create real situations, mix kids of all levels, and let them experience the language.
Some kids start off two years behind.
By the end of the year, they’re reading over 500 characters and speaking with more fluency than they ever got in years of Saturday school.
Why? Because we believe in them.
Our Secret Sauce
We don’t do endless worksheets.
We don’t do soul-crushing 1-on-1s.
We create group classes because communication and connection matter.
I teach kids how to talk to each other.
That’s the foundation of success in every area of life.
So yes, maybe I get called a Tiger Mom. But I raise my kids (and yours) with heart, with humor, and with high expectations paired with freedom.
This summer, I hope more moms will join us.
We're more than just a Mandarin program.
We’re a movement.
We build bridges, teach self-regulation, build resilience, and bring joy.
Let’s raise kids who know how to thrive in any language.