Dan and I have been reading a ton of books about Parisian culture.  I think I need to stop because I am becoming fearful of this new adventure.  The differences between the French and Americans are vast.  One such difference is how the French view children.

They believe that children should be seen and not heard.  "It is not uncommon to see a child at the age of two or three sitting quietly for a couple of hours while the parents enjoy dinner and conversation with friends", says "the book".  I think  Americans are at the other end of the spectrum;  doting on their children to a fault, giving them tons of choices, accepting bad behaviour  by making comments like "Oh, little Tommy is tired" etc.  (I can't tell you how many times I've used that line).    

I have always thought Max and Sophie had fairly good manners.  Now, I feel like the "manners police".  I am constantly on them "did you say thank you", "look that person in the eye when they talk to you", "sit up straight", "don't play with your food".   I am going to give myself a nervous breakdown trying to mold them over the next two months into "American children who behave in Paris".   Who am I kidding??  

I am noticing so many things about my children and the children around me.....we  spoil them.   I know my parents generation are laughing right now saying "yes,  you do".  Their parents all came from "the old country" where, for the most part, children were seen and not heard.  Personally, I hate that term.  Can't we find a middle ground?  I think that my children could use some fine tuning but I also want them to express themselves  and have a voice.   

The goal for me is to "chill out" and stop worrying about what others think of MY parenting and MY children.   I will put my "blinders" on and do the best I can........or I will make friends with another Mom who has a couple of terrors running around so I won't look so bad.  Yeah, that sounds better.