Bringing up the baby

Are French mothers the new Tiger moms? Are they stricter than the British equivalents? And if so, is it working? Are French kids better behaved and educated? Are they happier??

This article from the Guardian raises some interesting observations regarding child raising, but I can't help but feeling that the core of the issue has nothing to do with nationality, but simply in differences in attitude amongst conflicting groups of parenting styles.

If children are being let to run free to discover the world and make their own choices, are they harmonious or disruptive?
If they are reared in a more strictly confined space, where some one is scheduling every step they are allowed to take, will this benefit them in their adult lives?

We can argue for the sake of arguing for as long as we like, but the bottom line is, parents will not always agree on the art of bringing up the baby. There is no point in dressing it up as a matter of nationality - we all come form different schools of life.

You go, girl!

Kate got her yellow belt in Aikido last night, after only 3 months of practice. She is the only girl in a group of 15, and it's taken most of the boys over a year to get to the same point.
I don't want to brag -
but YOU GO GIRL - KICK SOME BUTT!!!

Show them that everything they can do we can do too - and with dignity to spare.

I am so proud of her:)

A new year

I don't really know where to begin, but I hope you have had a good holiday.

Today is Kate's birthday, and she's turning 10.
Yes.
10.
I have been a mother for a decade.

But it is not about me, it is about this gorgeous, funny, smart, cool and very special creature that is my daughter. Who I am so incredibly proud of.
Happy birthday, Kate.
I love you so very much.

Argh!

How do I keep my calm with a near 10 year old girl who is impossibly sloppy and disorganized with everything that comes her way.
Jackets. Sweaters. Been through dozens. They all end up somewhere in a school yard, and never find their way back home. Or to Lost and Found for that matter.
She can't find a pencil sharpener or eraser on her desk if her life depended on it.
Practice sheets for french test? When she finally tells me they actually have a text (the day before), she forgets to bring it home.

I'm tearing my hair out!
Please, help me - what do I do???

PTC

Parent teacher conference today.
Am gearing up for a bit of an argument with Kate's teacher. He's in to collective punishments and shouts a lot at the kids in class.
Wish me luck.

Big mouth

I unwillingly raised a few eyebrows in Kate's Aikido class yesterday.
There is an Alpha-boy in the class who is always voicing his own greatness (he also happens to be in Kate's school class, so I have had ample time to study his behavior...), and also letting others know that girls are no good at anything. They can't kick a ball, they can't do team sports, they can't do maths, etc etc.
Yesterday, while doing stretches, the boys were slacking off, not taking it seriously.
- Look at Kate, Sensei said. That's what your meant to do.
(Kate is flexible, and stretches the pants of all the boys.)

- That's because she does ballet, whines Alpha-boy.

- So? I hear my self say across the room.
Everyone looks at me.
- SO?
Every one is quiet.

The other parents are uncomfortable.

I wish I kept my mouth shut.
I just can't take attitude, and laziness, at the cost of making the girls sound weaker. As if ballet is a bad excuse.
But I wish I kept my mouth shut.
I can't fight her battles.

I have a big mouth.

Juggler

Here we go again. Another long break.

I promised myself to never over-schedule my kids, to always make sure they have plenty of time at home, and to teach them that it is OK to be bored, and to use their imagination.
That has worked well. Not.
Kate is currently dancing three nights a week a 1,5 hour, riding 2 hours every Sunday and practicing Aikido Thursday nights.
Leo has swim lessons and soccer tots. Add on the odd birthday party and throw in a few play dates and you have yourselves two very fraught and exhausted parents.

What happened?
I'm not a soccer mom. I'm not a pushy stage mom, or a helicopter parent. How did I get caught up in this?