Work versus Home, Chinese Culture and American Culture 上班與家庭的時間

We only have a certain number hours to spend in life and the question is how do we spend them? In the U.S. this takes on the debate with feminism about women and careers, being a ‘super mom,’ etc. I think it is wider than that. What do we value, work or home? Time is a clear indicator of that. 一寸光音一寸金, 寸金難買寸光音

Clearly extended family is more highly valued in Chinese culture than in Western culture. Adults spend much more time with their parents and grandparents spend much more time with their grandchildren than in Western culture.

Also, children are welcome in many more social spheres than in Western culture. The 2nd photo here is a real illustration of this. You can see the differences in the reactions of the two parties to noise from our children playing. Recently, I was chasing our smallest one around a Chinese restaurant, playing airplane while flying him in my arms near the tanks of live lobsters and geoduck clams. That would not have gone over well in a formal French restaurant.

However, I think the time which adults spend with their own small children is not that much different at least between the United States and Chinese culture. Part of the reason for this is that when both husband and wife work, Chinese grandparents will often times help our taking care of the children. Other times children will help out in small businesses run by their parents.
Both my wife’s and my parents help out take care of our children. We also have jobs that allow us to spend a good part of the week with our children. Oftentimes I am able to take my children out in the middle of the day and then work until late at night after everyone is asleep.