Mothering, Fathering

While browsing through books at Booksale, I came upon this quote:
"American society suffers from too much mothering and not enough fathering."

I liked it very much because I believe it's the general fact, regardless of nationality, and for Philippine society most specially. Filipino mothers coddle their kids and their husbands let them. Or Filipino fathers insist on dishing out the punishment without earning first the authority to discipline, and their wives let them. It's as if you can only get loving and gentleness from one parent, and character and values from the other.

I've said it before and will say it again. Kids need to be raised in the different kinds of loving and parenting that mothers and fathers give. They need both tight hugs and pat in the backs, and in equal measure, for them to really be equipped to face the rewards and harsh realities of the world.