It's a problem these days of America's overly liberal culture. I'm not against liberalism but hyper liberalism. Everybody needs a degree of space and boundaries, liberated side and conservative side. However America is stereotypical today as a "pampered state" in the modern era. I have to be conservative on one side and liberal on another- I cannot be hyper on both.
Between husband and wife:
1.) The overbearing mother-in-law. This is to tap in the area of the Chinese man/American woman marriage. Not too much on the Japanese or Korean spouse. The problem can be the American wife might have to face with visits from the Chinese mother-in-law who can tend to think she's always above her son even if they're not living in the same house. Mother-in-law problems are really an issue with a lot of Chinese people. American daughters-in-law could really fight back really hard.
2.) Household budgeting. Budget spending habits can be a conflict of interest. It's pretty much a problem among many Americans to be extravagant (and hence, many Filipinos tend to imitate that example). Many Americans can be so wasteful to the extent that if they can't afford something they borrow tons of money and charge it to their credit cards then run off, a habit many Filipinos acquired. But a thrifty American spouse will have very little conflict with budgeting.
3.) Taste buds. I would probably throw the blame in more to both sides. In my case, I would admit I won't bother marrying a Thai woman because I just don't like Thai food but I can be friends with one though. However some people are open minded and can adjust their taste buds to various cooking. It's like Constance Woods-Chau and her husband Emil Chau adjusting to each other.
Here are some possible conflicts that can be faced in raising children and how they can be resolved:
1.) The battle of extremes. It's a sad fact sometimes Oriental parents can be overly demanding then again don't tell me that doesn't happen anywhere! Even some American parents can get unreasonably demanding. The problem can be the overly strict Oriental parent vs. the overly lenient American parent in some cases. For example the Asian father says "No." and the American mother says "Yes." So there is the conflict. But it can be resolved if both agree with "No" when it's really appropriate and "Yes" if it's appropriate.
2.) Responding to the gimmies syndrome of children. America seems to suffer from the gimmies syndrome a lot. It's the big picture that today's children not just in America but almost anywhere tend to be materialistic. However I'm just glad for some American moms/dads in a mixed marriage that says, "I don't care if all the kids in America has this or that! Listen, even if everybody in your school has an iPod or whatever, you're not getting one! You want something, learn to work for it because kids whose gimmies are fed become spineless worms!"
There will always be differences but hey, some differences can be reconciled!
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