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2nd Trimester
Just Read a GREAT book!
I wanted to share this book with as many people I know! It's called Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman. It's about an American woman who moves to Paris and has her first child there and how differently they do things... their kids don't have temper tantrums, they sleep through the night right away, and tons of other stuff! There are some things I don't agree with (Parisian women don't breastfeed for any longer than a few months max, for example). But overall I thought it was a great read. At first I (and others I've told about it) were skeptical about these things working, however if it's working for all of France (and many other places in continental Europe) than why not for us too! Imagine never having to deal with a tantrum in the middle of the mall or getting up seventeen times a night! It's definitely worth a try, right?
Here's the Amazon link to it... it's already getting great reviews!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Just Read a GREAT book!
I read it before I was pregnant and I've read it again during my pregnancy.
LOVE IT!!
There have been several discussions about this book on the International Nesties board on TN. In short, those living in France and other places in continental Europe (including myself) say it's a load of crap. Yes, I have friends whose children STTN by the time they were 8 weeks old - both in the US and Germany. And I have friends whose children didn't STTN until they were older than 1.5 years (including my own, who is brought up in a combo German/American way) - both in the US and Germany.
I'm not saying that there's nothing that can be learned from the French (or other cultures), but I really hate it when one particular culture is glorified as having found the "perfect" way to bring up children or do whatever. I have complaints both about things that are commonly done in the US and Germany when it comes to raising kids.
BFP1: DD1 born April 2011 at 34w1d via unplanned c/s due to HELLP, DVT 1 week PP
BFP3: DD2 born Feb 2013 at 38w4d via unplanned RCS due to uterine dehiscence
There are pros and cons of the French method. Here's a WSJ review:
https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577197101678568414.html
Pros: you have relatively well-behaved children (Seen but not heard), and get back to adult life more quickly. Not much helicopter parenting.
Cons: you don't actually enjoy parenting; there is no value for the childish wonder and adult-child interaction
TTC #1 Since 8/2010
Me: 34, DH: 35 DX: DOR (FSH 14.9, AMH 0.67, AFC ~10) and Egg Quality
IVF #1 Feb 2012. MDFL protocol w/ Met. 7 ER, 0F.
May Donor Egg IVF cycle:3 EF, 1 blast ET 5/12, 2 frosties
BFP 5/21! beta #1 5/22 306 beta #2 5/24 818 beta #3 5/31 15,038.
"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian." --Dennis Wholey
Really great concepts with interesting views from either side. However, just remember that tantrums won't *never* happen, your child won't *never* throw food on the floor, and you will *always* get time to yourself every day.
Not trying to be "Debbie Downer," just trying to remind that nothing is a sure thing, no matter how consistent.
I do believe in a lot of the things the book talks about. I think some of the practices are great to try to implement in day to day life.
Absolutely agree with the last poster. French people CAN get fat and they CAN have misbehaved children. But I do think it is important for parents to be aware of different styles of parenting and to evaluate them according to their own goals.
I really enjoyed it too. I would have found this book interesting even if I wasn't pregnant.
Ive seen some of the negative reviews and its obvious that many of these people didn't read the book. It doesn't present French parenting as the perfect way by any means. Its not a how to book at all - its simply one womans observations - both good and bad. Specifically it talks about the negatives of being a parent in France (i.e. stress about keeping weight down, the expectation of a career and fascinating love life, the aversion to breast feeding long term) right along with the positives of having expectations for childrens behavior and ability to participate in the family.