'Apron Mom' urged to cut strings to outdated image

Shared responsibility

In Shao's household, parenting is a shared responsibility. She and her husband have developed a system to rotate tasks — from bedtime routines to academic support.

Each night, she and her husband alternate between which child they tuck into bed, ensuring the children receive attention from both parents. While Shao initially managed all aspects of the children's studies, she eventually found the emotional toll was too much. She and her husband then divided the subjects between them.

"I told him, I'm tired from work too. It's not like there's only one earning money, right?" said Shao. "We both work, we're both exhausted. And this home doesn't belong to just me — it's our family's home, and both of us should contribute. It wasn't just my decision to have two kids, either."

However, Xiao, the mother from Xi'an, believes contemporary Chinese picture books and animated films are reflecting growing awareness of the need to balance parental roles and challenge traditional stereotypes.

She pointed to the recent Ne Zha movie adaptations as a clear example. In these versions, Ne Zha's mother is portrayed as both loving and willing to let go — supporting her child while respecting his individuality. Her character strikes a balance between warmth and boundaries, offering protection without overreach. This transcends the earlier portrayals of Ne Zha's mother.

Looking ahead, she is looking forward to seeing more children's books and cartoons that are sincere, intelligent and colorful.

Shao hopes that future children's media and picture books will emphasize a more balanced relationship between both parents — whether in terms of household responsibilities, professional identities, or individual value.

Quality stories can encourage children to trust and communicate with both their mother and father when facing difficulties, she said.

"For picture books about families, ideally both mom and dad should appear in the story," said Shao. "And when it comes to expressing family emotions, no matter what, mom and dad both always love you — let children understand this through the books."