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Why French Parents Are Superior
Wall Street Journal ^ | 2/4/12 | PAMELA DRUCKERMAN

Posted on 02/04/2012 9:13:39 AM PST by jimbo123

While Americans fret over modern parenthood, the French are raising happy, well-behaved children without all the anxiety. Pamela Druckerman on the Gallic secrets for avoiding tantrums, teaching patience and saying 'non' with authority.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: europeanunion; france; isurrender; itsthearrogance; lecheese; surrendermonkeys; torchacar4allah
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

In farm/ranch country, children always still seem to have a proper upbringing-that is one reason we moved back here as fast and soon as the late MrT5 and I could get out here and still be close enough to work in the city...


61 posted on 02/04/2012 12:29:11 PM PST by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
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62 posted on 02/04/2012 12:30:12 PM PST by onyx (SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC, DONATE MONTHLY. If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, let me know.)
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To: jimbo123

Those are Muslim utes rioting unless that is from 1968.... or perhaps they are French truckers ( then all bets are off)


63 posted on 02/04/2012 12:38:08 PM PST by Nifster
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To: notpoliticallycorewrecked

Of course there are people in California who do a good job.... my comment was about California in general as a place. I raised my daughter in California and she survived in spite of the craziness out here. Perhaps your skin is a bit thin...


64 posted on 02/04/2012 12:40:13 PM PST by Nifster
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To: boomop1

got me there


65 posted on 02/04/2012 12:40:41 PM PST by Nifster
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To: Texan5

Sounds awesome. Wish we had been neighbors. My early childhood was great and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I pity children of this last generation going forward. Many are so screwed up- looking up to vapid losers like Paris Hilton, Linsday Lohan and Michael Vick. Hopefully I will be long gone before that ilk will be making my life or death decisions.


66 posted on 02/04/2012 1:44:50 PM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: jimbo123

They didn’t say “muslim” french youts...

Which is the largest growing demographic in France now.

To me the article ignores what is really going on in France.


67 posted on 02/04/2012 1:47:27 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: jimbo123

A friend traveled to Mexico some years ago & had the same impression of children there. They were quiet & well-behaved, & if mom had to say something it was done in a calm manner.

It just comes down to the parent understanding that they are the one in charge. what I’ve seen too often is the American parent wants to be the child’s friend. In other words, no one is the adult.


68 posted on 02/04/2012 1:58:28 PM PST by Twotone (Marte Et Clypeo)
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To: Cowgirl of Justice

If the present trend continues, I don’t think most of those kids will ever be anything but pleasure-loving mannjequins. It will be up to those who are being brought up as real people to see that things make sense, and none iof us need to ever think we can retire. Fortunately, I don’t want to-I’ll just keep up my little business till I die, and I’ll be perfectly happy.

My mom and grandmother both used a limber switch from a small bush or tree to discipline kids-I suppose that is considered child abuse now...


69 posted on 02/04/2012 2:08:15 PM PST by Texan5 ("You've got to saddle up your boys, you've got to draw a hard line"...)
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To: chalkfarmer

Good one.

I remember reading a quote years ago, but I forget who said it:

To be bored is an insult to oneself.


70 posted on 02/04/2012 2:33:52 PM PST by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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To: Raycpa

“Only stupid people are bored.” That’s what my Mom told me when I suffered from stupidity. ; )


71 posted on 02/04/2012 3:05:23 PM PST by Chgogal (WSJ, Kristol, Krauthammer, Rove et al., STFU. Thank you.)
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To: jimbo123; SunkenCiv; afraidfortherepublic; mojo114; seenenuf; LucyT; Think free or die; ...

*** FRENCH POLITICS AND CULTURE PING LIST ***

*** FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO JOIN  ***

The article is very interesting, and makes some good points about the American, mostly Yuppie urban obsession with their children. They are raising little tyrants who believe the entire universe revolves around them. 

The article over-idealizes the French way of raising children. More than half of French marriages end in divorce, if they bother to get married at all. Families usually have only one or two children by choice. Children thus don't grow up in a cooperative atmosphere where the nuclear family is the building block of a healthy & stable society.    

There has got to be a happy medium somewhere. America is raising a generation of spoiled brats taught thry are the center of the universe. They are overwhelmed by cellphones, FB, and other non age appropriate activities for young children. The French are raising their next generation of emotionally isolated individuals who look to the state instead of to God, themselves, or their families for support & strength.    

The French are incredibly self-centered, self-indulgent, and materialistic. Far more so than everyday Americans, who are people of faith and responsibility. French children are "socialized" starting at age 2 or 3 being sent to crêche or daycare. They are force toilet-trained for the convenience if the mother, not the well-being of the child.    

Little girls are taught never to trust other little girls, who they believe are always jealous. They never form the same kind of deep friendships that we do.   

The French woman's obsession with weight, appearance, and lack of spirituality encourage narcissism and selfishness in girls.  The women also smoke, and French women are the world's largest consumers of tranquilizers & sleeping pills, diet aids, etc.   


72 posted on 02/04/2012 9:49:46 PM PST by Cincinna ( *** NOBAMA 2012 ***)
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To: Cincinna

WOW! Interesting take on French woman and French families (generally).

My only experience is my daughter’s in-laws. Sweetest family EVER. Very old fashioned, more traditional French. Also, not Parisian, so that helps. Their five children are all incredibly together, respectful, courteous, fun, outdoor-y, bright (4/5 graduated from an Ivy League school, with #5 still in high school), and I’d bet my bottom dollar not one foul word ha ever crossed any of their lips. Just plain wholesome, As a family they are very close, but not suffocating. I do think it has a lot to do with the parents’ soft-spoken but firm limits and authority that isn’t exercised much in the US.


73 posted on 02/04/2012 10:07:03 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: EDINVA

Thanks, EDINVA
I sure do appreciate your input. I think what you say is very true. I think the author was concentrating on Paris, which is like concentrating on Manhattan.
The more traditional people in France are married, have larger families, and are more religious, whether Catholic and Protestant.
You’re lucky to have your daughter’s in laws. They sound like wonderful people. These kind of people raise their children the way we were raised, and our parents before us.
I would love to hear more about your daughter and her French family.


74 posted on 02/04/2012 10:21:59 PM PST by Cincinna ( *** NOBAMA 2012 ***)
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Comment #75 Removed by Moderator

To: Cincinna
http://locallygrown.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/team-holding-applause-sign-thumb6343144.jpg

Bravo Cincinna, you said everything I was thinking, Sadly the Moral and Cultural Rot that has infected both our country and France is being filled by Immigrants, In France Mostly Muslims, Which, if My Wife's Family are too be taken as a standard, absolutely Hate France and the French way of life, something must be done to stop the decay, but it is good we have conversations like this to get a perspective on raising the next generation.

76 posted on 02/05/2012 4:22:41 AM PST by KC_Lion (I will NEVER vote for Romney, the GOP will go the way of the Whigs if they nominate him)
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To: Texan5

Well, before I was about 10, I did not have to do a lot of work, and I spent many happy hours playing outside with my brothers and sisters. And I was a tomboy who loved climbing trees and riding my bike. Don’t recall being bored.

As I got older, I was given my share of work to do in keeping the house clean for a family of 11. No boredom there, either. :)


77 posted on 02/05/2012 5:22:30 AM PST by Bigg Red (Pray for our republic.)
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To: Moonman62

France is about 93% white and theyve got a healthier birth rate than the rest of Europe and white America.


78 posted on 02/05/2012 5:41:04 AM PST by Tea Party Terrorist
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To: Texan5

My parents used the first thing they could grab- wooden spoons, belts, hairbrushes and yes, switches.

Until the day we realized we could outrun them.


79 posted on 02/05/2012 6:43:19 AM PST by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: Tea Party Terrorist
France is about 93% white and theyve got a healthier birth rate than the rest of Europe and white America.

That's a good point. Do you know right off hand where I can find those statistics?

80 posted on 02/05/2012 6:55:58 AM PST by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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