I have a bit of a dilemma.
My nearly 6 year old twins are starting to lie, as most kids at this age at this do. Their occasional, transparent attempts at mendacity are cute but worrisome.
At home in America the reaction would be to trot out George Washington and his cherry tree. But we live in China, and given the state of modern Chinese society I wonder if it is more important that they learn how to dissemble skillfully. Most of my Western friends are horrified that I would even ask this question, and most of my Chinese friends say “of course”.
I am thinking they should start memorizing the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六计) and Sunzi’s Art of War (孙子兵法).
Amy Chua may be the “Tiger Mom“, but perhaps I should be the “Sunzi Dad“.
Advice?
Follow me on Twitter @niubi or Sina Weibo @billbishop.