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Bringing up Bebe



I read an article by Pamela Druckerman the other day and just loved what she had to say. I was most excited to see that she also had a book that expounded on the ideas in the article. I was even more pleased when Penguin Press gave me the opportunity to review it for them through NetGalley.

Druckerman is an American living in Paris with her British husband and their three kids. Bringing Up Bebe is the capturing of her experience as a mother in the midst of this culture. In my experience, the French are very mysterious, not prone to giving out the secrets of their lives or becoming best of friends with Americans. Druckerman makes this point several times within Bringing Up Bebe.  One of the reasons that I really enjoyed this book because it was such a great commentary of the reality of France and an in depth look at the ways that Americans differ in regards to parenting.

The structure of French parenting is very tempting. The idea of how to encourage your children to not only sleep through the night, but also allow you to spend time with your spouse. These things seem like a dream from my past when Hannah was younger. The fortunate thing is that it's not too late. We have instituted some of these ideas within our own family and they do work. The key is being consistent. As well as making sure that I think before I speak. But aren't these the things we desire of ourselves as parents already?


Bringing Up Bebe is a wonderful reminder of what we can accomplish if we stand firm in our desires as parents. But it's also a great trip into French culture. It was almost like a mini-vacation to Paris for me, seeing the sights, interacting with the Parisians. It was wonderful. I enjoyed every second of this book and I do believe it has encouraged me to be not only a better mother but a much better wife.
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