Respectfully, it's not. When I was in grad school (a Sociology program, with a focus on migration), one of the findings that jumped out at me most saliently from a course on parenting research — jumped out for how sad it was, and for the fact that it was a finding that appeared across multiple studies, both qualitative and quantitative — had to do with Asian and Asian-American families (from a variety of Asian backgrounds) and how parents treated money. Namely, the more Americanized a child was, the more they suffered emotionally and psychologically for the cultural differences in how their families showed love. The Western parenting ideal is: show love in all ways possible, including words of affirmation, physical affection, quality time, etc. The Eastern parenting ideal is: show love by providing, even if your quest for money means you don't get to be present... and don't be too demonstrative with words or hugs and kisses, lest you "spoil" your kid. Asian children, and Asian immigrant youth who spent all or most of their childhoods in Asia, weren't bothered by their parents' focus on money; they knew their parents loved them and that the focus on money and providing was the "proof."

BUT.

When transplanted to the West, or when born and raised in the West to Asian parents, children of Asian parents felt deeply hurt by their parents' behavior — because they were comparing it to parents who were more freely expressive with their love: parents who not only fed, clothed, and housed their children, but also hugged and kissed them, praised them, said "I love you," and so on.

I never forgot about these studies because they were a fascinating look into how our cultural environments shape (and re-shape) our standards for connection.

Thanks for another thought-provoking blog!