Bringing up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting Pdf, Epub, Ebook
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BRINGING UP BEBE: ONE AMERICAN MOTHER DISCOVERS THE WISDOM OF FRENCH PARENTING PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Pamela Druckerman | 284 pages | 02 Jul 2012 | Penguin Putnam Inc | 9781594203336 | English | New York, NY, United States Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting PDF Book Their parents respect them enough to allow them to do so, and in return, they respect their parents' needs separate from them, too. Finally, she doesn't present all this information clinically. In fact, if they come over to my bench my reaction tends to be, depending upon my mood, mildly dismissive to openly hostile. Druckerman suggests that American parents are horrified by the idea of daycare and would do anything to avoid it, including quit their jobs. The other main point that struck me as I read is that, no matter what a parent chooses, it will always be "for the good of the child. And that is why I read this book, because of the comfort it gave me in realizing that I'm not alone in thinking the current state of mommy- martyrdom is insane and unhealthy. The author's view of parents in Paris, as well as her research of numerous French parenting ideas, is extensive. And the rest? On the other hand, they're not so big on the breast-feeding, which is somewhat problematic. When she had her daughter in France, she was struck -- repeatedly, and at many levels -- at the difference between French and American children. This is completely insane. Bringing Up Bebe I'm sure this book is a wild success in France, but I had to laugh at this book's praise on the back cover by the author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother and the author of French Women Don't Get Fat. French parents feed their kids more or less the same things they eat, as do the state-run daycares and schools. Imagine if everyone who came into contact with your children was going to reinforce the very same standards you were trying to teach them. Sound interesting? View all 3 comments. France is the only nation among 18 recently studied with depression rates higher than the US. Home Page World U. NB my 2 stars: 'It was ok' is probably more based on the content than the author's work I found it entertaining and easy to read but wish I never had! I have an American friend who discovered her firstborn was being secretly bottle-fed in the hospital, against her wishes. This is a terrifying, dreary picture for a young girl though excellent birth control. Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting Writer More than 80 percent of French parents, according to polls over the last decade, slap or spank their children from time to time. Had she applied her journalistic skills to discovering what we American parents are doing across the Atlantic, instead of relying on what she sees wealthy parents doing in a park in New York City, or even worse, what she read in What to Expect When You're Expecting, she would have understood more of her American subject matter. But much to my surprise, this was a far better book than I had imagined. Believe me, he never bit anyone again. I've purposefully shied away from so many parenting books on the bookstore shelves these days. French children are notoriously well-behaved- they say hello to strangers, they sleep through the night, and best of all, they know how to sit through an ENTIRE MEAL without crying, running around or throwing their entree at the waiter. Shelves: never-finished. There are plenty of American moms just like you, who can't bear to tell precious Ella "no" and who pretend that children are incapable of rational thought. Thanks for telling us about the problem. View all 5 comments. And the book doesn't sell it as an all-or-nothing deal. And the rest? Rather, she just makes a few observations that she was able to semi-successfully apply to her own three children. Of course, there are features of childbirth and child-rearing in France that are vastly superior to practices in the United States. First, she didn't even transition to explaining the role of this section of writing. It is good for them to be autonomous, which translates to spending a lot of time away from their parents. The fetishization of the French or the Chinese or whatever the 'hot' culture of the moment is bugs me, to no end. Please try again. Their parents respect them enough to allow them to do so, and in return, they respect their parents' needs separate from them, too. Love the way the writers' approach in the book, regaling her own thoughts and experience and try to find a balance through research from parents and experts before adapting it into her own family. Gabriela was 14 at the time. It might. No: not recommend. My spouse pointed out that it's books like these that contribute to mother guilt here in America, books that say you're doing it wrong, do it this way. The criticism of American nuttiness when it comes to overachievement and obsessive micro-parenting is important. On the flip side, perhaps because I'm not an upper-crust, Manhattan parent, I don't personally know any American that parents the way she suggests. Druckerman glosses these aspects of the culture. Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting Reviews I'm married to a wond Excellent! I also appreciated that she made clear that when she talked of American and French methods of parenting she was referring to IDEALS and not always to the practical application of said ideals. Reviews "Marvelous. In a recent discussion with my mother she was horrified to learn that I had lived most of my life with a fear of having childre Let me first say, that I am not a parent. I don't think children have fragile egos that can be crushed that easily and am more concerned that false praise is no more than erecting a rickety scaffolding around their sense of self-worth. You ceased to be an individual and became an ideal. French kids eat well-rounded meals that are more likely to include braised leeks than chicken nuggets. That is strong praise, indeed. For mothers, so is refusing to make child-rearing an all-consuming vocation. Across the U. What horrified me from the very beginning were the attitudes of modern American parents that Druckerman seems to take for granted. Why, some American parenting experts call this abandonment and negligence. Other major takeaways touch on the emphasis the French put on establishing a "cadre" or framework of discipline and responsibility for their children; the importance of manners it's not just please and thank you but hello and goodbye for the French ; instilling a child's independence ie, not hovering over them on the playground and teaching them how to behave at the dinner table, all the while eating food that vastly trumps our "chicken tenders friendly" U. This was fun. It is truly as funny and engaging as it is thought provoking and you don't have to come out on one side or the other. For some quick background, the author is an American who finds herself living with her British husband in Paris at the time of their daughter's birth. My brother bit her once. Druckerman suggests that American parents are horrified by the idea of daycare and would do anything to avoid it, including quit their jobs. They have an easy, calm authority with their kids that Druckerman can only envy. I just can't even conceive of letting that happen more than once--I certainly know my mom didn't. Other Editions Truly, I was thrilled someone actually noticed this, and that the pediatrician she interviewed had the same thought as me: You're doing it to reassure the world that You are an Awesome Parent. Also known as "French children don't throw food". I'd heard a lot of discussion about this particular book and I have to say, if it ends up being the ONLY b I've purposefully shied away from so many parenting books on the bookstore shelves these days. Respect for children as intelligent beings capable of learning - and NOT in need of constant hand holding to do so. Related Articles. French mothers assume that even good parents aren't at the constant service of their children and that there's no need to feel guilty about this. Open Preview See a Problem? I think that when you're a stranger in a strange land, as Druckerman was, you end up putting a great deal of emphasis on fitting in and behaving to the detriment of what's truly important. The problem is, they also get a lot of crucial stuff very, very wrong. Readers also enjoyed. They played by themselves while their parents sipped coffee. That they don't snack between meals but we Americans do. There were a lot of positive points too those that either I or the author found positive. Without knowing it, I had adopted a French way of parenting with a heavy dose of German Luftwaffe commander. Enjoy your children - and your marriage. Give us a little more information and we'll give you a lot more relevant content. But Druckerman's upper class, wealthy French friends do some things right, which makes this book a worthwhile and very funny, well-written read.