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 ...
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...
Those are Muslim utes rioting unless that is from 1968.... or perhaps they are French truckers ( then all bets are off)
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...
got me there
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.
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.
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.
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...
Good one.
I remember reading a quote years ago, but I forget who said it:
To be bored is an insult to oneself.
“Only stupid people are bored.†That’s what my Mom told me when I suffered from stupidity. ; )
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
France is about 93% white and theyve got a healthier birth rate than the rest of Europe and white America.
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.
That's a good point. Do you know right off hand where I can find those statistics?
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