Bringing Up Bebe

I just finished “Bringing Up Bebe” by Pamela Druckerman, described as “One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting.”  Fabulous read.  I am still of course on what seems to be never ending quest to be a better parent.  And as I have just learned from reading the book, the French mantra is that there is no such thing as a perfect parent, so my goal of “slight improvement” is at least obtainable.  Here are my highlights:

Kids should never hit a parent:  I’ve let the monster walk all over me.  Until now.

Kids should be able to sit at the table and be patient, while eating normal food:  I’ve never been a fan of children’s menus, or should I say the singular children’s menu since they’re all the same, and only now use them to save money.  But for goodness sake, let them eat food.  And teach them patience at the table.  Meal time isn’t just about eating, it’s social, educational, and a culinary treat.

You don’t have to attend every practice, or for that matter enroll your child in every program:  Phew.  I’m not alone in that theory.

Kids like their independence:  I knew that.  No second thoughts on letting them figure things out for themselves.

Parents like their independence too:  Yay for that!  So it’s okay to make it clear that “you are not the center of the universe.”

“Good Job” and other things you shouldn’t say to your kids:  That’s actually a website and super blog.  But it’s true and the French abide by it.

And of course life is different in France with health care and child care but no need to dwell on that because it’s very depressing compared to the United States.

So where do I fit in:  Tiger Mom, American “Helicopter” Mom, or French Mom?  I don’t know!  It’s a work in progress...