Pondering Thoughts

Pondering Thoughts:

I read an article by Pamela Druckerman, in The Wall Street Journal (online). The title reads "Why French Parents Are Superior".
I just want to make this perfectly clear that I have respect for Pamela Druckerman and I am not trying to bash her theory, I am just curious as to what parents think or feel about the following points. And whether you the reader agrees or disagrees that French parents are better than American parents. Please share your thoughts with me!
Now where do I begin?

France vs. America
FP: French Parents   AP: American Parents

- FP: French children sit quietly and patiently while dining out.
- AP: American children are loud and restless while dining out.

- FP: During visits, French parents casually converse with each other while their children play queitly.
- AP: During visits, American parents spend their time eliminating arguments over toys and are more actively involved in their children than they are with each other.

- FP: Believe in using the term "educating" rather than "discipline" when it comes to correcting their children's behaviors.
- AP: Use the term "discipline" when it comes to correcting their children's behaviors.

- FP: Do not become obsessively involved in family. "They believe that even good parent's aren't at the constant service of their children, and that there is no need to feel guilty about this." -Pamela Druckerman
- AP: Are accused of overparenting, and "Nobody seems to like the relentless, unhappy pace of American parenting, least of all parents themselves." -Pamela Druckerman

- FP: Believe that encouraging their children to play by themselves is most important
- AP: Believe that encouraging their children to play by themselves is not as important


- FP: Prefer a more unattached, self-soothing approach. Which seems to create more patience in their children.
- AP: Prefer the "Attachment Parenting" style. However it seems as if this particular style has become accused of overspoiling our children causing them to be demanding and impatient.

- FP: Instead of eating throughout the day, have 3 designated meals every day with a specific snack time around 4 pm. This also creates patience in their children.
- AP: Let their children eat whenever they are hungry. And when the children demand to have a snack the parent's have a difficult time saying "No!".

- FP: Is it possible that teaching their children delayed gratification gives the children the ability to concentrate and reason more effectively under stress?
- AP: Is it possible that teaching their children instant gratification causes the children to "fall apart under stress,"? (per Mr. Mischel and colleagues report)

- FP: Don't have to pay for expensive preschools, nor do they have to worry about recieving health care for their families, or stress about the cost of higher education. And then they also have the availability of monthly payments for having children.
- AP: Pay up to $1000 a month for preschool, can either afford or aren't able to afford health care for their families, stress about the cost of higher education and therefore their children are limited when it comes to higher education. And need I go into the monthly payments?