Don’t throw food on my e-reader!
How is everyone doing? I have just finished reading my first e-book. As a librarian in love with physical books, I would never have thought I’d be tempted to get a reader. ‘Don’t saw off the branch you’re sitting on’ says a French expression (‘Don’t dig your own grave’). But one day it dawned on me that this could be a cheaper, less space-consuming way for me to read in English so I bought one for that purpose and I’m excited with my purchase.
For instance, I was curious to read the infamous ‘French children don’t throw food‘ by Pamela Druckerman I already mentioned here, but I didn’t really want to buy the physical book because I knew I wouldn’t re-read it and wouldn’t want it to occupy precious apartment space.
What I was curious about was not discovering the French way of bringing up children because I have an idea of what it is like, but of what it was like in the US and the UK in comparison, and why French parenting seemed of interest. Everything the author describes about French parenting is well-documented, absolutely accurate and spot-on. I can only assume that what she writes about the Anglophone way is too.
Well, to say the least, I got my money’s worth of cultural differences! In this global world you sometimes end up thinking everyone’s not so different after all, since we wear the same clothes, love the same tv series, live in the same Ikea furniture etc. But I already had hints from North-American blogs I follow that we were not on the same wavelength on the topic of children. I’m not going to say that the French way is superior, but now I know I couldn’t do it any other way. Honestly, I’m not even sure I would have wanted a child if I had been living in an Anglophone country. From what I read, it seems to me a recipe for unbearable brats and unhappy, enslaved parents. But Anglophone parents are probably as horrified as I am of the French way. Anyway, it was an enriching, thought-provoking read!
Record of the day: My Bloody Valentine – EPs
Posted: May 26th, 2012 | Author: anneemall | Filed under: Books, Children | 7 Comments »
Could you give an example of the difference? My niece doesn’t throw food, as far as I know, though she drops enough of it…
And happy new Kindle – they do save space, you’re right about that. Unless, like me, you end up buying twice as many actual books as before, to make up for the ebooks (also quite numerous), leaving an absolutely enormous pile of stuff to get through. How daft is that?
Well, I’m sure there are a lot of Anglophone children who don’t throw food and French children who do, generalization is never a good thing, you’re right!
A precise and common example is babies at night. In France, most people don’t jump to their babies at the second they hear a cry. They wait a couple of minutes. This probably creates a frustration for the baby, but very often he gets back to sleep by himself and sleeps through the night from the age of a month or two. Anglophones can’t seem to bear letting their child cry for a second and rush to supply the child’s needs, or what they believe the need is (eg. food) They find it cruel to let such a young child in despair and feel that their role as parents is to be as devoted as can be.
We seem more relaxed (not as protective etc) but also more strict on some issues (more scolding for misbehaving).
Another topic: Anglophone value learning as many skills as possible from an early age (which can seem pushy to us) whereas the French value the ability to ‘awaken’ to things and learn to play by oneself. I guess you can find plenty of other examples from online reviews. It’s really very different states of mind. I’d sum it up quite neutrally by saying that, from what I read, children in France are less at the centre of their parents’ lives than in Anglophone countries.
About the Kindle, well, it’s good in a way it hasn’t killed the desire for books!
Thanks for the elaboration. The bit about unwittingly encouraging children to keep waking up during the night does ring true, actually, about another couple we know.
It’s fascinating that it’s possible to make those kinds of observations at the level of culture, or shared language, though.
um, je me disais justement que se serait chouette de ne pas avoir 36000 livres dans la maison et que d’avoir un de ces gadgets serait une bonne alternative! il n’y a pas de livres en anglais à la biblio locale donc je dois toujours acheter les romans de “fifille” et autres trucs que je ne vais jamais relire. bon, je vais y penser :) merci pour l’info. bonne semaine xox
De rien, j’ai justement piqué l’idée à Chris qui a commenté plus haut ! En plus il y a des aspects pratiques sympa, comme le fait de pouvoir lire facilement d’une seule main ou avec la liseuse posée sur une table. Allez, bonne semaine à toi, bises !
I’m glad you shared your impressions on this book. it’s the first French perspective I’ve heard and seems so honest. But then I would add that’s a stereotype of the French that I have (honesty, that is). It can be such a tricky road to go down making cultural comparisons, and I like what you said about thinking that superficially Anglo v Francophone life seems pretty similar.
Chic on peut commenter en français !
Il est difficile de ne pas faire de généralités sur un tel sujet.
Pour ma part j’ai testé l’obligation de manger, puis le laisser aller et enfin l’obligation de goûter.
Aujourd’hui, nos enfants grandissent, nous connaissons mieux leurs goûts et il est aussi évident qu’ils sont très inspirés parce que que nous, parents, nous mangeons.
La soupe qui était quotidiennement une “soupe à la grimace” ne pose plus de problème, au contraire, ils en redemandent. Victoire !
Je vais essayer de suivre ton blog plus fréquemment, merci à LO de 86andco pour la découverte !