Are the French better parents to their children?

Every year, the American media elite takes a big spin on the Wheel o’ Ethnic Insecurity and determines which foreign culture we’re all supposed to emulate and fear. Last year it was the Chinese. Maybe in 2013 everyone will finally come to appreciate Denmark.

But for now, the spotlight is on France, land of bad breast implants and laissez-faire parenting, the latter of which is the subject of the new book Bringing Up Bébé. Remember the vaguely abusive-sounding prescription for Chinese motherhood laid out last year in Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother? This is basically its opposite.

Bébé, a memoir by former Wall Street Journal reporter Pamela Druckerman, divulges the wisdom of French child rearing. It’s a model, she believes, we could all learn to emulate. Not only do French women manage to eat pastries without gaining weight, but they also are able to maintain sane adult lives while raising well-adjusted children. Their secret? Unlike their American counterparts, French women are not obsessed with their kids. They don’t lose themselves in parenting. They do not negotiate, tolerate tantrums, provide excessive snacks, or waste weekends shepherding little ones from soccer practice to birthday parties to kiddie discos.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/02/05/bringing-up-bebe-why-french-parents-rule.html

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Asked by tasches at 6:56 PM on Feb. 9, 2012 in Parenting Debate

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There is something to the whole not catering so much to your children belief. I think a lot of parents in the US in the last 15-20 yrs, have catered too much to their children. And, now they are dealing with the consequences of that.

Answer by 3libras at 7:29 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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I think there is something to what they say. I see many of my friends and neighbors cater to their children't every need and are constantly finding things for their kids to do. I enjoy my children, but I refuse to be their source of entertainment. I also expect them to listen to the word "no" (and I USE the word "No").
I don't think it's a 'French' thing. I think it is something that has gotten lost in the US with all the psycho babble mumbo jumbo that psychologist throw out there. I think we need to go back to the REAL experts and listen to grand parents and parents who have successfully raised children for thousands of years.

Answer by layh41407 at 7:01 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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Every parent, parents differently. does not matter what countries.

Answer by louise2 at 7:19 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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My theory would lean toward a better system of education.
_____

Again, much of that has been dictated by parents over the years. I stopped teaching in public schools because of parents. I had a student call me a bitch after I asked him to turn to page 221. I wrote him up. His Dad insisted I must have done something to instigate his son. I had another kids swear at me. I wrote him him. The dad called and said "If we think it's ok for our child to swear, who is the school to say he can't? "
I have had parents bring in lawyers and threaten to sue the school to get a 0 and a discipline slip removed from their child's file after the student was caught cheating.
If parents want a system of better education , they need to SUPPORT it, not fight it all the time.

Answer by layh41407 at 9:01 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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There are plenty of American women who are excellent mothers to their children... I'm with louise2... Every parent parents differently...no matter where you live.

Answer by Ruthmom802 at 7:27 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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"There is something to the whole not catering so much to your children belief. I think a lot of parents in the US in the last 15-20 yrs, have catered too much to their children. And, now they are dealing with the consequences of that."

I agree. I read "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" and I loved it!
I'm not in the US, but there's a lot of American influence here and I think we have become very child-oriented societies, afraid that our children will experience the slightest discomfort. And if we prevent our children from experiencing frustration, sadness, failure, etc, they don't learn to deal with those emotions later on.
Now, if we were seeing happier, more secure, better adjusted children than in previous generations, we could argue we're doing better, but it's actually the other way around.
Sharon

Answer by momto2boys973 at 8:45 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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"The french are more 'well-adjusted", lol
I'll keep that in mind while I watch them riot."

LMAO! I thought that too, I just didn't want to be the one to say it.

Sharon

Answer by momto2boys973 at 8:31 AM on Feb. 10, 2012
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Is this the same question that was asked earlier this week: http://www.cafemom.com/answers/1106911/The_French_are_better_parents

Answer by m-avi at 6:59 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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My theory would lean toward a better system of education.

Answer by kenzie07 at 7:37 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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I agree, layh41407. Parents are often too involved in insignificant aspects of child rearing, and not involved enough in the part of education that will actually build the foundation for a successful livelihood.

Answer by kenzie07 at 9:20 PM on Feb. 9, 2012
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