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Original poster

40 Reasons not to have children - book

58 replies

Judy1234 · 08/07/2007 10:13

Description of a book in the Sunday Times from France which is interesting - 40 reasons not to have children.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2042068.ece

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 15:40

How did she get an entire book out of this?

Where am I missing the boat here?

She's like Seinfeld but without the humour.

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 15:44

expat - there are loads of single-theme books published in France - you read on and on and on just to hear the same idea regurgitated in a thousand ways .

I'm going to FNAC later and might take a look but it'll be horrible, I can guarantee

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 15:45

I think I'd have to take up knitting if I were subjected to that, Anna .

She sounds like someone who doesn't have a baby for the child-sized chip on her shoulder.

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 15:45

right so basically she doesn't really like her children or spending time with them - can't see the humour in that myself!

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 15:47

Actually, that's one of the great surprises about France - the women have all these children and never question that they "wanted" them, and then they hardly spend any time with them at all

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 15:50

On the other hand, I find Brits and Americans tend to over-think and over-analyse many things.

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 15:58

what do they do with their children instead anna? do many have nannies?

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:01

sparklesandwine - yes, lots of nannies (nounous - not qualified, sort of maids-cum-childcare), lots of garderies and creches, lots of centres de loisirs and colonies in the school holidays.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 16:02

I want a nounou. Just because I like how that word sounds .

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:03

expat - one of Sarkozy's bugbears is that the French don't "réfléchir", he wants them to become more analytical and questioning like the Anglo-Saxons... he thinks the French are passive and stuck in their ways and that that is the source of a lot of problems here.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 16:04

That's going to be a bit like trying to get Anglo-Saxons to adopt a more European attitude towards drinking .

At any rate, plenty of people make huge decisions here without much reflection at all - and indeed by accident.

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:06

expat - yup, an uphill struggle

They need to make the education system more questioning first of all - very hard. Very, very hard.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 16:07

Most educational systems aren't set up to encourage independent thought.

Not saying that's necessarily a good thing, but France is certainly not alone in this.

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:09

I agree, but it's particularly difficult here given that there is no proper independent sector to challenge the state status quo.

Anyway, at least we are no longer governed solely by Enarques .

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 16:10

Be thankful for small mercies .

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:12

I'm quite hopeful, really, for the new administration. Lots of things have changed very quickly - things not necessarily newsworthy outside France, but that do make a difference to people's daily lives.

expatinscotland · 09/07/2007 16:12

Oooo. What like? I'm just being nosey here.

It's been years since I've been to France myself.

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 16:13

oh dear thats quite sad really isn't it

i know children can sometimes be, urm, 'challenging' but children are such wonderful people to share and enhance your life not an inconvenience

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 16:16

ooops sorry you moved on

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:17

expat - they've made it much easier for children to apply to go to a school outside the catchment area (I know children who are changing school this September as a result); they've changed inheritance law to make it less penalising for widows; they're going to return tax to people who pay over 50% of their total income in tax; they're giving mortgage tax relief (directed at the least well off).

That kind of stuff.

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:18

sparkles - no problem, I was going to reply to you.

Yes, I find it quite difficult to manage that the French aren't cuddlier and kinder with their children

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 16:27

i like the idea of the medals though anna i want one

Anna8888 · 09/07/2007 16:28

sparkles - how many children have you got?

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 16:30

there are many people who aren't kind to their children unfortunately no matter where you are

a friend of mine who is french has a full time live in nanny to occupy her children and so that her and her dh can do things as and when they want - i used to feel a little envious but now i just find it a bit sad for the children they crave their mothers attention but rarely get it unless it is on her terms

sparklesandwine · 09/07/2007 16:31

i have 4 anna - do i qualify?