Parenting Book Review: Bringing Up Bebe

An article by Joanna    7 Comments

If I were pressed to choose one writing style that is my favorite, I would have to choose and writing that is done with humor. I just wasn’t raised to take life quite so seriously. As a result, I have a hard time reading most books about parenting or self-help. There are some authors or topics that I will read every time (my husband says all the time), but when I stray from those authors and topics, it’s never for long and I don’t always finish the books. In case you’re wondering, those authors would be Elizabeth Pantley, Dr. and Martha Sears, Ina May Gaskin, Sheila Kitzinger, Aviva Jill Romm, natural  childbirth, breastfeeding and attachment parenting. Other parenting books either don’t fit my style or are too curmudgeon-y for me. Yes, that’s a made up word. Despite going to a school with Science in the name, I’m not quite as stiff and prickly as you might think.

As a result, I typically don’t read books that are outside that sphere, but I wanted to try Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman because I’m very interested in learning how it’s done in other countries. I love hearing about midwives in Mexico, so although I’ve never been to France, I was interested to learn the differences. To my supreme joy, Pamela Druckerman writes a book that is not only well-researched (with references to boot, so I can check it out), but also with a steady dose of humor. I was also raised to never mark in books, but this was one book that I was almost tempted to break out the highlighter on while I was reading it.

I enjoyed reading the book because she discusses what she learns from observing French parents, what she learns from observing and talking with American parents, and what she does and doesn’t adopt into her own parenting style. She doesn’t expect her work to be a parenting book that is read and adopted by parents with the zeal of other parenting books – like, say, the fad that was Ferberizing. She portrays what she sees, feels and hears in a way that is not only informative, but also light and humorous. I definitely feel that any parent can take what they want from this book, use what fits in their own family and regard the rest as a lesson learned and a new perspective gained.

Clearly Pamela Druckerman has gathered some parenting advice during the course of this book and her experience. She uses her journalistic skills is a wonderful way – I learned something without it being painful! She is one author I definitely want to read more from, and I think you’ll enjoy her work also. Learning about another culture is always neat, especially when it’s so well-presented.

This book review is part of TLC Book tours – you can find the tour schedule here: http://tlcbooktours.com/2012/02/pamela-druckerman-author-of-bringing-up-bebe-on-tour-februarymarch-2012/.