Daughter of Hong Kong actress attends two kindergartens, eats, naps, uses bathroom in car

HONG KONG: A Hong Kong actress’s daughter who attends two kindergartens, eats, naps, and uses the toilet in her car has earned her mother the label “monster parent”.

Li Tianzong, 37, also known online as Lena, was born in Hong Kong to a mother who is a renowned pipa player.

The former Miss Hong Kong contestant has appeared in supporting roles in several TVB dramas, including ICAC Investigators 2024 and The Invisibles.

Now married to a mainland film director, she has a four-year-old daughter called Amber.

Li shares her daily life with her daughter on social media and has more than 16,000 followers.

To manage Amber’s busy schedule, she bought a seven-seater car for the six daily commutes between their home in Yuen Long and nursery in Kowloon Tong.

Amber attends two kindergartens each day, the Christ Church Kindergarten for English education, and Hong Kong Soka Kindergarten, which emphasises Cantonese.

Li said the schools are very close, minimising driving time.

Many Hong Kong parents in the comment section noted they follow the same routine to keep up with language learning.

One mother said that most morning classes end at 12pm, with afternoon classes starting around 2pm.

Amber’s day begins at 7.30am, with her brushing her teeth, changing clothes, and eating breakfast in the car.

After school, Amber eats and naps in the car before heading to the second kindergarten.

Li even set up a portable toilet in the car for convenience.

In her spare time, Amber learns pipa and piano from her grandmother and practises recitation and dance with her mother.

Many netizens criticised Li’s parenting, calling her a “tiger mum” and “monster parent”.

“Have you considered your daughter’s feelings? She is only four, but her schedule is as intense as that of an adult,” one person said.

“The child is suffering, missing out on her childhood,” added another.

Li said that Amber enjoys attending two schools and sees it as a valuable experience.

“I am not proud of this, but every parent has their own approach. Even if you disagree, I hope you can respect it,” she stated.

During holidays, Li takes Amber to zoos and amusement parks in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, southern China.

The mother and daughter’s efforts have paid off.

Recently, Li shared Amber’s achievements on social media, including winning a Mandarin recitation competition and earning distinction certificates for Mandarin proficiency and English speaking tests.

“Effort brings rewards. Kids who seize every opportunity to improve will only get better,” Li wrote.

One netizen said: “The competition in children’s education is fierce, and every parent wants to give their child the best.”

“Do not stigmatise tiger mums. As long as the kid’s wishes are respected, it is a happy thing for parents and children to work hard together.”

In China, tiger parenting is a strict approach in which parents push their children to achieve success.

Critics argue this model can negatively impact a child’s mental health and social skills. – South China Morning Post