bringing up bebe

image from stephmodo

I’m sure this isn’t the first place you’ve run accross the book “Bringing Up Bebe” as it seems to have been making it’s way around the internet quite a bit as of late, even rating an article in the Wall Street Journal.

The main idea? Pamela Druckerman, an American mother raising her children in Paris, marvels at the typical behaviors of the French children she knows (and how different it is from many American kiddos). They sleep through the night at 2 – 3 months, they patiently sit at the table during meals and are likely to play contentedly while their mothers sip coffee & chat.

Although I have not yet read the book myself, some of the key ideas from reviews and articles boil down to this:

– Teach, don’t discipline.

– Practice Calm Authority.

– Teach delayed gratification & patience.

– Remind children, “it’s me who decides.”

– “Please” and “thank you” are required.

All in all, pretty solid ideas to run with if you ask me! Have you read the book yet? Any thoughts or feedback?