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justalurkrI don't fritter away all my time on science fiction, romance, thrillers and mysteries. I try to have at least one "improving" book going on the MP3 or Kindle at any given time, some for longer amounts of time than others.
This is one I had no idea would be so improving: Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting, and one of the reasons the "try a sample" function on the Kindle is a devil-born hole in my wallet. The title of the book dissimulates slightly: this isn't just any American mother, this is a middle class, neurotic, New York mother who knows where it's possible to shell out $600 for a Baby Bodyguard to babyproof your chichi loft. Part observation on French child rearing as contrasted to American, part memoir of expatriate life in Paris with children, the book is wholly entertaining and thought-provoking.
No, I do not now nor does it appear likely I will ever be raising actual human children who exist outside my head. I do, however, have an Inner Brat and two cats. (I suspect le cadre will work some better on Brat than cats, but anything is worth a try.) It didn't occur to me until a French mother told the author to say "no" like she meant it that we all have an Inner Brat to deal with, and how often do we mean no when saying it to ourselves? Plus, the fall-out from having no fixed schedule for meals and sleeping is as obvious in my own life as it is in the lives of American toddlers.
Which reminds me: I appear to be late for work. Oops.
This is one I had no idea would be so improving: Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting, and one of the reasons the "try a sample" function on the Kindle is a devil-born hole in my wallet. The title of the book dissimulates slightly: this isn't just any American mother, this is a middle class, neurotic, New York mother who knows where it's possible to shell out $600 for a Baby Bodyguard to babyproof your chichi loft. Part observation on French child rearing as contrasted to American, part memoir of expatriate life in Paris with children, the book is wholly entertaining and thought-provoking.
No, I do not now nor does it appear likely I will ever be raising actual human children who exist outside my head. I do, however, have an Inner Brat and two cats. (I suspect le cadre will work some better on Brat than cats, but anything is worth a try.) It didn't occur to me until a French mother told the author to say "no" like she meant it that we all have an Inner Brat to deal with, and how often do we mean no when saying it to ourselves? Plus, the fall-out from having no fixed schedule for meals and sleeping is as obvious in my own life as it is in the lives of American toddlers.
Which reminds me: I appear to be late for work. Oops.
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Date: 2012-03-02 10:22 pm (UTC)Not sure the type of details the book goes into, but with a visit to France, knowing people there with kids, and generally watching way too many documentaries about how American and European work and family ethics are, I have to say the French seem to get a pretty good deal.
Many Americans react rather violently to the idea of paying more taxes, but they can't see that it evens things out and allows people to have more time to enjoy their life by providing health care, child care, and many other benefits (depends on the country). Or, more likely, they don't like the idea that some of their money might help someone else. Even when they'd actually be the ones to benefit more.
The most difficult "no" for me is splurging on something like electronics or books. I'm better on the books since I work in a library and can get most of them for free, but electronics still call to me. Used to be as soon as I got my tax refund back, I'd be trying to figure out which gadget to buy. This year, I was good and stuck it in my savings account, which adds an extra step if I want to get to it.
It's partly an "OMG my car died!" fund, just in case, but I'm also looking at it as an emergency fund if my insurance won't cover my migraine treatment. I'm acting all grown up, but inner child still wants a toy.
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Date: 2012-03-03 03:11 am (UTC)However, working with kids and their parents, I'm AMAZED at how many people can't...or won't. I've seen adults begging their two-year-old to finish what they're doing so they can leave and parents bargaining with middle grade kids to do their homework . Ive seen kids ordering their parents around and telling them what they're going to do...and their parents caving to their demands. Parents often blame someone else when they want to enforce kids behavior but don't want the responsibility---they regularly blame me if their want the kid to behave ("If you don't stop screaming/running/throwing books/kicking your sister the librarian is going to kick us out and never let us come back") and I've seen them blame others too ("If you don't come with me right not, I'll have to call the police to come and take your home")
I've requested that our adult librarian buy a couple copies of this book, and I want to read it when it comes in! If I like it, I may even buy a copy or two and leave them "conveniently" where parents with issues can find them!
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