This article claims that French parents are superior to American parents. The main reason the author believes this to be true is due to the fact that French parents don't allow their lives to revolve around their children's lives. Their children understand that "no" means "no" and they must learn self-control at an early age.
They allow their children to cry themselves to sleep when they are very young, so they will sleep through the night.
They don't allow them to snack in between meals, except for one afternoon snack, so at meal time they are hungry and eat without causing trouble.
The children are taught early to entertain themselves and not always expect the parents to entertain them.
When the parents are talking to others, the children aren't allowed to interrupt.
These all sound like great things to me. The earlier a child learns that the world doesn't revolve around them and learns self-control, the more every one will enjoy them.
They learn to become good sleepers. They learn to control their appetite. They learn to not expect to be entertained constantly. They learn to respect others.
Children need boundaries. Growing up to be disciplined adults make life a whole lot easier on them.
I encourage you to raise responsible, self-controlled, and unselfish adults. The world needs more people like that. These are very good character qualities. Maybe, we can learn some things from the French!
In your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1:5-8
