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Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting | Pamela Druckerman
The secret behind France's astonishingly well-behaved children. When American journalist Pamela Druckerman has a baby in Paris, she doesn't aspire to become a "French parent." French parenting isn't a known thing, like French fashion or French cheese. Even French parents themselves insist they aren't doing anything special.Yet, the French children Druckerman knows sleep through the night at two or three months old while those of her American friends take a year or more. French kids eat well-rounded meals that are more likely to include braised leeks than chicken nuggets. And while her American friends spend their visits resolving spats between their kids, her French friends sip coffee while the kids play.Motherhood itself is a whole different experience in France. There's no role model, as there is in America, for the harried new mom with no life of her own. French mothers assume that even good parents aren't at the constant service of their children and that there's no need to feel guilty about this. They have an easy, calm authority with their kids that Druckerman can only envy.Of course, French parenting wouldn't be worth talking about if it produced robotic, joyless children. In fact, French kids are just as boisterous, curious, and creative as Americans. They're just far better behaved and more in command of themselves. While some American toddlers are getting Mandarin tutors and preliteracy training, French kids are- by design-toddling around and discovering the world at their own pace.With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman-a former reporter for "The Wall Street Journal"-sets out to learn the secrets to raising a society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters, and reasonably relaxed parents. She discovers that French parents are extremely strict about some things and strikingly permissive about others. And she realizes that to be a different kind of parent, you don't just need a different parenting philosophy. You need a very different view of what a child actually is.While finding her own firm "non," Druckerman discovers that children-including her own-are capable of feats she'd never imagined.
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mabell
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Chrissy, what a fabulous surprise! Thank you so much!

My Francophile self is quite excited for Bringing Up Bebe - which looks very entertaining. 🍼🇫🇷 And I‘m so happy to have a new Christmas read for this season! I love those covers! 😍

Thank you for thinking of me!! ❤️❤️❤️

PathfinderNicole Every time I see the word bébé I think of Moira Rose ? 1y
Chrissyreadit I hope you have a great holiday! And the books are fun 😘🤍❄️🤍 1y
mabell @Chrissyreadit They are! Thank you so much! Merry Christmas! 🎄❤️ 1y
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Smartypants
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Pickpick

This was a good perspective on the differences between American and #french parenting. Well researched and the author shares personal stories and tactics for raising children.

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beaconhillbooks
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Pickpick

Parenting books oddly captivate me yet repel me. I liked the book. There were times when I just plain disagree about somethings but the overall message is don‘t sweat the small stuff. Treat kids like adults but you are in charge.
Wish I had known the back of the book was the advice without Druckerman‘s stories.

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notreallyelaine
Mehso-so

I don‘t know why I am so obsessed with memoirs and parenting books. Druckerman‘s voice is hardly original or even interesting. But for some reason I devoured this book. Take that as you will.

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Mdonald
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Pickpick
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amyf0x
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Pickpick

A light, fun take on the epic and confusing journey that is becoming a parent, with a focus on Druckerman‘s experience as an American parent raising babies in France.

Read March 16-22
Rated 4/5 ⭐️
Book 17/60

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ginganinja
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What a badass!

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HeathHof
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The weather here was gorgeous today and made for good audio crafting out on the patio. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, reminding me of this meme I found this morning. I'm not sure if I'll stick with the tagged book or not at a little over an hour in I haven't learned much. This is my first attempt at embroidery and I'm finding it very therapeutic.

MaleficentBookDragon It's so pretty! (And I love the meme) 4y
Hooked_on_books The meme! 😂 4y
ChasingOm Did you get that pattern from Etsy? It looks similar to a kit I bought recently! 😄 4y
See All 7 Comments
HeathHof @ChasingOm I'm not sure where the pattern came from. @haileybean sent it to me for #makerswap last summer. 4y
haileybean I got it on Etsy I think 🙈 4y
ChasingOm You‘ve done a lot more of it than I have! It looks great and it‘s such a pretty pick-me-up. Good choice, @haileybean! 4y
HeathHof Thank you ☺ @ChasingOm & I agree @haileybean did an awesome job selecting such a pretty pattern! 4y
52 likes7 comments
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SShiney
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Pickpick

I have the British version with a different name. As an American living in France, it really spoke to my heart about both cultures. Yes, there are a lot of generalizations, but it was a fun read with a lot of food for thought.

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85eliana
Pickpick

An insightful perspective! Some ideas you can try with your own children, while others are rooted in a support system in France that does not exist in the States.

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Avatar.of.sonia
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Mehso-so

Although written through theory and practice, with details on how to go about things as well as the reasoning behind them, this book did not help me after all. I was hoping for something...more. More humane, more scientific, more child friendly... more.

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HotMessJess
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Waiting for a child is exciting, tough, and terrifying. I‘ve done my best to avoid parenting books since I tend to over worry more than most. I picked this up on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. I am learning a lot from the French and hope I can put it to good use!

BookBelle84 I thought this was a very practical outlook. 6y
Magpiegem Just enjoy having a chance to read whilst you still can... man I miss just picking up a book and reading when I felt like it 😄 6y
HotMessJess @Magpiegem I have a feeling books on tape will soon become my good, good friend 6y
HotMessJess @BookBelle84 I thoroughly enjoy it, and my husband and I have decided to utilize a lot of the theories when Baby B gets here! I very much subscribe to the idea that little human is entering our lives and we need to figure out each other‘s rhythms versus upending our ENTIRE existence for a kid. SO practical and lets us live a little! ( I hope that doesn‘t seem selfish!!) 6y
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SamanthaMarie
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1.) Technically we don't usually spend all day in bed, but two nights ago my toddler got super sick and now I'm not feeling well. Regardless, the dog, kiddo, and my other little pupper make up my days everyday :)
2.) Getting back on Litsy!! ♡
3.) NOPE. Allergy.
4.) 🤔🤞🏻👶🏼🧒🏼🗼🤗😎😂
5.) Yes. My left wrist/arm 3 times.

@MinDea

Eyelit Hope you feel better soon! 6y
mabell Wow 3 times! 😳 6y
SamanthaMarie @Eyelit Thank you so much! Me too. I have a love/hate relationship with being stuck in bed haha. 6y
SamanthaMarie @mabell Yes! Every year around Mother's Day, three years in a row. Definitely my mom's least favorite "gifts" as I was growing up haha. 6y
60 likes4 comments
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parttimedomestic
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Pickpick

I finished my 5th book and almost 14th hour of #24in48 and I‘m calling it a night!

Sweet dreams readathoners!

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kristenmcquinn
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Little_Reader
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I feel like she‘s saying everything I‘ve been thinking.

29 likes2 stack adds
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kristenmcquinn
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kristenmcquinn
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Loving Bringing Up Bebe so far.

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BlenderOfTeasNerdOfBooks
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Pickpick

What's better than books that cost $1? Not much. Shouts out to dollar tree for having such a healthy book selection and only charging $1 for them. Bringing up bébe is a great read. Check it out.

rather_be_reading awesome! 6y
3 likes1 comment
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ontheBL
Pickpick

A wonderful book about the differences between French and American parents. As an American in Paris with a new baby, Druckerman is pulled between what she knows amd the confusingly well-behaved children surrounding her in France.

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needleminding
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Aside from some pretty strong (yet oddly not mean-spirited) fatphobia, this book is really affirming for me so far. There are many things that are good to be reminded of during the day-to-day task of caring for a baby, and that so much of what seems "normal" in one country is not in another.

Lmstraubie That is such an important concept. There is no one right way to do things between cultures or even between families. 7y
6 likes2 comments
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needleminding
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needleminding
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Started listening to this today. I was looking for another fantasy romance, but ended up with this. Which may still count as a fantasy romance. 😄 As I type this, my 7 month old is fiercely fighting her nap. 🤦

Aninski I saw this post a few hours ago and just remembered it now, as my 9mo is fiercely fighting his nap 😜 thanks for sharing, I'll have to check this one out! 7y
needleminding @Aninski 😄 And all the while I'm thinking 'I'd love to take a nap!' I'm sure you can relate. Hopefully some French wisdom will help. 🙃 7y
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nicholes.book.nook
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I'm in the process of packing up my entire house to move yet I still decide that this is the time to join a new book group. Ehhh... what can I say?! Priorities.
Anywho, this will be our first read and I'm super excited because this has been in my TBD pile for about two years!

Cinfhen Ugh, moving and packing up ~ so stressful! I think joining a book club is a great stress reliever 👍🏻enjoy!!! 7y
nicholes.book.nook @Cinfhen thank you! ☺️ I'm looking forward to the little escape. 7y
15 likes2 comments
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Court7
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An excellent audio book for some recent long drives. Might be a bit before I get to put any of they practices in action.

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sherrynuts
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Pickpick

An easy-to-read and interesting look at the French vs American ways of parenting. I don't have-nor aspire to have-children, but I did enjoy reading this book. Both cultures can learn a bit from the other. Also, I enjoyed her title chapters.

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sherrynuts
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Americans don't quite count kids as a full person and don't expect them to talk to adults with clear thoughts. The French emphasize speech and rational thought over reading in the early years and expect very young children capable of logical thinking.

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sherrynuts
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I haven't finished my last book, but the library was calling and I picked up 4 books. And since I'm stuck at home during this ice storm-which hopefully does not become serious-I might as well read all day and night. 😍

RealLifeReading Stay warm! 7y
sherrynuts @RealLifeReading doing wonderfully so far. I've got my tea, slippers and blankets. Fingers crossed that the power stays on tonight! 7y
19 likes2 comments
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Sarah.Regalado
Pickpick

Offers a unique, global perspective on parenting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the author's experiences and I reference this book frequently while discussing parenthood with my own friends and family.

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wellreadbedhead

It‘s not just the physical space that‘s different in France. I‘m also struck by the nearly universal assumption that even good mothers aren‘t at the constant service of their children, and that there‘s no reason to feel bad about that.

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wellreadbedhead

“Human beings speak to other human beings. Some of them are big, some of them are small. But they communicate.”

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wellreadbedhead

“In the U.S. sometimes I have the feeling that if it‘s not difficult for you, you have to feel bad about that.”

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AileenRR
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Pickpick

Practical advice on how to help babies/children sleep well, eat well, and behave better, given in a way that's thought out and reasonable. Like most self help books, though, the ideas stay with me for about a week before I revert back to old habits. Did I make it sound dry? It's not! I really like this book. I first listened to it a few years ago and decided it was interesting enough for a reread.

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hwheaties
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Pickpick

You make the mess? You clean the mess. Apart from some privilege issues, most of the parenting advice in this book (establishing a "cadre" and instilling responsibility) was sound. Grain of salt and dose of reality with everything, though, right?

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Chrisalynn
Pickpick

A great cultural insight in French society and ways

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Sammy
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Baby books on the brain for the last 9 months... So ready to start reading again, those these days it's hard to find the time 🍼😁📚

RaimeyGallant A belated welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon #LitsyLove P.S. A bunch of us posted Litsy tips a few days back. Check about 8 posts back on my page. :) 7y
2 likes1 comment
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Liquidchicken
Pickpick

Good intro to French-style parenting for Americans.