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How one mother found happiness giving up her 'tiger mom' status

As the author to six parenting books and a regular contributor in British newspapers, Tanith Carey has made a career writing about parenting. But for a few years, Carey says she could have been defined by another label: tiger mom.Soon after Carey gave birth to her first child, Lily, Carey says she put her daughter's future resume first."I remember in an early baby class, it was a drumming class,

As the author to six parenting books and a regular contributor in British newspapers, Tanith Carey has made a career writing about parenting. 

But for a few years, Carey says she could have been defined by another label: tiger mom.

Soon after Carey gave birth to her first child, Lily, Carey says she put her daughter's future resume first.

"I remember in an early baby class, it was a drumming class, I asked if she had talent," Carey told NBC's Kelly Cobiella on TODAY. "She was 18 months."

Carey says that she kept pushing Lily until one fateful science fair. Lily took first place, and she cried.

"That was my wake up call," Carey said. "She didn't want to be part of the race that I put her in, and I had to listen to that."

Carey's struggle with what parenting style she was comfortable with is similar to that of every parent. Three years after Amy Chua's controversial book, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," popularized a strict parenting style that emphasizes academic success, the question still remains: What's the best way to raise our kids?

"There is so much parenting information being thrown out at people today," says Jennifer Hartstein, child and family psychologist. "You have to, in your gut, trust that you know what's best for your family."

Today, Carey says she takes a much different approach with her second daughter, Clio, emphasizing understandable rules and less hovering.

And since writing a book about her experience, "Taming the Tiger Parent," Carey says that she hopes other parents can learn from her mistakes, and that she's glad she changed her ways.

"I'm really glad that I gave it up when I did," she said. "I wouldn't go back."