Catherine CrawfordReseñas

I liked the phrases and thoughts like intuitive manners, intuitive vs codependency, how empathy is closely aligned with intuition, the discussion of adult and child people with intuition, how to tell if a thought might be incorrect, being grounded, being careful, checking facts, and trusting yourself.

This is a delightful read, presenting lots of ideas about lifestyle and good manners to ponder. It is pointed out there are several ways American children seem to be missing the mark for acceptable behavior and appreciation for life's little pleasures. A social evaluation threading thru the book allows you to see that we are not really as up on this as we could be. It gives pause for thought. One can't help thinking there is a better way to raise children and specifically teach them about the pleasures of a more refined lifestyle. When Ms. Crawford lines our habits up next to the French, I am almost embarassed for myself. I have resolved to change a few things. I have also decided that while every parent can use advice to ponder, not everyone has all the answers. No one is perfect. Happily, Crawford is not afraid to own up to this and she posts a list of what the French might learn from the Americans. I was glad to see that. It gives us permission to be satisfied with our ways of doing things as well.
I would recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of help in settling into the parenting role. It helps to read about this other adored culture. Then it's good to give it some thought and consideration. And also give yourself some credit for doing a good job.

French Twist was interesting enough (and short enough) that I finished it in four days. Considering my lack of reading time with two young children this is fairly amazing.

At first I was a bit put off by Crawford's tone that implied all French children were absolutely perfect and all American children were little monsters. Of course the reason I picked up the book was in hopes of some tips for how to handle my daughters but her enthusiasm for all things French was a bit daunting. This idea was tempered a bit later on in the book as she admitted a few French parenting ideas that she didn't hold in such high regard and that her own brand of parenting was more a French-American hybrid rather than going completely native.

I was dismayed when Crawford started off talking about pregnancy and the French way of preparing for the baby. While this is probably relevant to examining the French culture in regard to children, I didn't see it having much to do with Crawford's experiment in treating her family in the French manner. All it seemed to do was reveal her completely neurotic tendencies during her own pregnancies and allow her to express regret for starting her children off in the American fashion.

What I had hoped to get out of this book were some ideas on a different parenting approach. I wanted concrete suggestions that I could implement with my children. While there were a few of those at the end of the book, the majority of the book contained sweeping generalizations without specific examples. Crawford would go on and on about how well behaved the children of her French friends were while almost being unable to put her finger on the parenting approach that led to this behavior. She gushed at how much improvement she has seen in the behavior of her own children but gave very little insight into how her parenting method changed beyond simply becoming more strict.

I realize that documenting every single parenting example would make for a long and boring book but I wish there had been a better balance between practical, usable information and the philosophic presentation on how French parents are successful while American parents are failing.

Really a fun read. Makes you wonder how American parents have fallen so far away from a common-sense-normal in child rearing. Love the author's self deprecating humor about herself and her family, the girls sound like real cut-ups!

A great premise with a less-than-great followthrough. The ideas in here are ones that I can get behind (does every participant really need a crappy plastic statue?) but, after the first few examples, it felt a bit repetitive. That doesn't make the ideas any less true but I don't know that you need to read the whole book in order to get what she is putting forth.

I won "French Twist" on Library Thing. My children are all grown, but I really enjoyed this book. A lot of what the French do makes sense. It was fun to hear how Catherine implemented some of their ways.

Quite honestly, this would have worked better as a blog than as a book.

Given the number of French history and literature books that I own, I can't knock the author for her interest in Things French. This work seemed less of an "experiment" than the disjointed ramblings of someone who had an epiphany, and decided that if she and her family went "French" that all of their problems would be solved. As with most fervent epiphanies, *reality* rears its ugly head.

The tell-tale moments for me were:

1) "If there is no blood, don't get up"... not original (my mother-in-law used that rule with her kids, as her mom did before her). A good thought though, and possibly the best advice in the book.
2) The author's kids telling her, "We. Are. Not. French." (Hey! *They* get it!)
3) The author commenting, "Just because one is aware of *how* something is done, that doesn't mean one can do it."

The third quote summed up the book for me. The author jumped randomly from idea to idea (idea du jour??) and frequently backed off (kids won't like that, or she didn't like it), or mentioned some method that she'll try *soon* and that she's sure willl work. Less like an experiment and more like throwing ideas against a wall to see what will stick. The rest was yadda yadda stories about her kids, or yadda yadda stories about French kids. OK for a single read, but I'm sure glad that I didn't pay for the privilege.

I am a devotee of French vs. American-style parenting books. I admire that Crawford realized that her children (and her parenting skills) could use a little brushing up and looked to her French friends to help guide her. But, I felt that she glossed over a lot of information as well as jumped around from subject to subject. However, the end results with her children were pretty successful!

This was a quick and somewhat entertaining read, but not as deep or as informative as I had hoped. The information was divided neatly into chapters, but each chapter seemed to be disorganized and rambled on. If you are interested in a book comparing the French and America parenting styles, I would have to recommend "Bringing up Bebe" over this one.

I disliked the breezy, informal style of the book and felt it was repetitive and scattered. I have read several books comparing child-rearing styles and philosophies and French Twist seemed shallow compared to most others. I recently read French Kids Eat Everything, a well-written book that gives a solid theoretical framework for its thesis as well as concrete, detailed suggestions for changing American food culture within the home. I really appreciated that the author discussed the structural differences between the United States and France that allows for healthier eating in France. Two very different books.

Impressed with the well-behaved children of some French friends, the author decides to embark on an experiment - introducing some French-style parenting to her 2 daughters. Her observations on the difference between American and French styles of parenting are interesting and enlightening. I think the author sums it up best in her chapter on boundaries: "...for the French, keeping boundaries firmly in place starts from birth. ...the trend du jour for American parents is to completely fixate on their kids - at the expense of practically everything else in their lives. ... I vote that we respect each mom's personal decision and not judge one another so harshly."

If all of the parenting books and mommy blogs are stressing you out and making you feel like a terrible parent, stop reading them and pick up this book instead - decide for yourself the parenting style that works best for you and your children.

Having lived in France and now expecting my first baby, French Twist appealed to me on several levels. I felt Crawford explained her obervations and personal experiences well without redundancy, giving me an opportunity to really think about her points. I have asked my husband to read this book, and I plan to re-read and take notes so I can implement many of the French ideas of parenting. That, to me, is the sign of a good book.

http://thenovelworld.com/2013/03/18/french-twist-catherine-crawford/

For all the potential this book had, it really, really fell short. I think the biggest obstacle for me was Crawford’s pose. It felt like the book was written by a very energetic 5-year-old who wants to tell you everything they learned in school that day in less than 5 minutes. I think the book could have benefited from more editing. Her style was filled with a number of asides, very few details and massive amounts of generalizations. After having completed the book, all I took away from it is that she “got French” and her life is more serene when dealing with her children.

This book was a bit 'lighter' than I anticipated. Reminded me of the Shopaholic books, very quick reading. The author was VERY scattered...the chapters were not cohesive, and she jumped from subject to subject. She often brought up a new subject in the middle of a paragraph, adding 'more about that later'.
The only chapter that made a good impression on me was chapter 6. The author discussed the over-consumption of goods, especially those cheap purchases made by family (grandparents, parents) which just add to the piles of 'junk' toys in the house. She had some solid suggestions in this chapter to avoid the junk.
I'm not sure that I would recommend this to new parents, as some of her suggestions may be taken the wrong way. I would suggest reading this if you are fairly secure in your own family life/beliefs.

American children are brats.

(Ouch. That hurts.)

That’s true. We know it is true. But it still hurts to write it down.

And I’m not just talking about Other People’s Children. I’m talking the children I raised and the children I see in my work and in my life. There are, of course, a few exceptions. But by and large, American children are brats. They want to be the center of attention. They want everything they see. They are engaged in shallow pursuits. They do not respect others. They eat terrible food. They are self-centered and unhappy.

Catherine Crawford has noticed that this is not true of French children. It became obvious to her that this is something she should research and share with others. So she did. And here is her book.

And I like it. It’s full of ideas about ways American parents are wrong and French parents are right. (Ouch, that hurts, too, doesn’t it?) Crawford has not only researched these ideas, but she has attempted to put them into practice and they have (by and large) worked well for her.

I hope, if you are a parent who is exhausted and disappointed with your overly-stylized children, that you will take a look at this book. Please. And will you give these ideas a try? Thanks. From all of us grownups who have to live with said American children.

What a delightful book! I'm a big fan of first-person accounts in which an idea is introduced and then the author lives it for you. In this case, the author had a bad case of two American children who she coddled, placated with screens, and catered to their every picky "need." Her love of all things French and the obvious difference between her children and the better behaved broods of the French parents around her made her want to try some of their techniques. Crawford sets boundaries, makes a single meal for dinner (instead of one for the adults, and one for the kids), and reclaims some space for herself.

Is this French parenting or just a universal style that modern American parents have forgotten? Crawford illuminates a need to return to strong boundaries, less stuff, and a household in which the parents, not the children, are in charge. The result? Less tantrums and higher-quality family time.½

I found the author's theory and approach to be very intriguing and it did make me want to try some of the ideas in my own home. The book read like a novel instead of a parenting book which is both good and bad. It's good because it is very engaging and a quick read. On the down side, the author moves between topics quickly and doesn't always have a lot of depth. Overall, I thought it was a worthwhile read and has inspired me to french-ify my own household a bit.

This is a cute and entertaining little book. It's a sort of memoir cum child rearing manual cum light cultural analysis. It's got practical advice, but it's also clearly meant to be an enjoyable and amusing read, rather than just a parenting manual. As many people have pointed out, she's offering some pretty commonsense suggestions. But given how badly behaved a lot of American kids are, I imagine a lot of people could use a refresher course in "common" sense that is amusing and light.

French Twist exposes what the author believes parents are doing wrong in America today, and encourages American parents to take lessons from the French regarding how to raise their children. Some examples of good "French" parenting customs that the author praises include not making separate meals for children (kids eat what the adults eat), insisting upon respectful conduct towards adults, expecting children to use proper manners, not allowing tantrums, whining, or begging, and not spoiling children with lots of toys and unneccessary rewards for good behavior. In each chapter, the author chronicles how she has implemented these French parenting tactics with her own children, and expresses how much better her children now behave.

What struck me most while reading this book was how badly the author's children behaved before she decided to emulate the French. Additionally, she gave several examples of the behavior of her friends' children in an effort to suggest that most American children are obnoxious little psychopaths. While I have observed plenty of children who act this way (there was one such little boy in the grocery store just yesterday), I do not believe that most children act as terribly as the author suggests. In previous careers I worked with children on a daily basis. I observed children interacting with their parents in group settings as well as when they felt they were mostly alone. I have to say, the cases of consistently bad behavior were few and far between. I can say the same thing about the children of friends and family. Rather than paint this parenting/bad behavior problem as an American one, I believe the author should have described it as a problem some parents (of any nationality) experience.

That said, I was describing the events of this book to a friend, and at my conclusion the friend said, "So I guess you liked the book, then?" I would not have admitted that at the time, but upon reflection I suppose what I did enjoy was the philosophy behind the parenting style the author chose to adapt. I agreed with most of her newly embraced parenting tactics (as they are essentially basic old-fashioned ideas) and still find myself bringing them up in conversation with friends and family several weeks later. While I did not agree with the author's basic premise that Americans have forgotten how to parent and that this instinct is inate within the French, I appreciated that the author acknowleged a problem with her parenting style and sought to correct it. I believe that many parents in that situation never realize that their parenting style is the problem, but instead choose to blame the children or assume their children's bad behavior is just a normal phase of development. This book could definitely be useful for parents of 12 month to toddler-aged children just beginning to test their parents' will. It will definitely serve as a good warning.

Crawford pens a helpful book full of insight and wit concerning modern child-raising. Her style is friendly and certainly colloquial. As an established blog writer, that style of writing permeates the book and brings a conversational quality to the book. A decent effort that does acknowledge many of the potential pitfalls of parenthood. That being said, many of the qualities that Crawford attributes to the French are more commonplace than she lets on. Many of them are common sense. New York is a microcosm in and of itself but the tips and secrets she provides courtesy of her French friends are practiced through the United States and the world with much more regularity. Therefore, while the book is entertaining and unoffensive in its presentation, the lessons are not so much lessons as reminders of what the majority of us already do and were raised with. I am not sure why it was such a revelation for the author but if the lessons prove helpful for others, so be it. Crawford herself acknowledges this in part near the end of the book which somewhat diffuses her teachings for the majority of the text but in this book, she is not so determined to teach as to share what worked for her.

Catherine Crawford's child rearing epiphany came during a dinner with French friends and their two children. They were polite, well-mannered, obedient and played nicely with their crazed American counterparts. Perhaps the inmates are running the asylum? Thus started a year's journey observing and interviewing French families and synthesizing some of what she'd learned into her own home. Given the present culture wars over parenting, Crawford is wading into very dangerous waters. Feelings run high on various fronts as to what constitutes proper parenting. Writing in a breezy fashion, Crawford manages to convey what she liked and didn't, what worked and didn't, all without sounding pedantic or too judgmental.

I was struck by how closely the 'French' methods mirrored my 1960's Midwestern upbringing. 'No' meant 'no,' no whining or bargaining, no snacking, no short order cooks in the kitchen, and the children were not allowed to infringe on their parents' adult time. And yet, no one died! This book will be a breath of fresh air for some, a reminder of old-fashioned common sense for others. No matter your orientation I suspect most will find this as entertaining as I did.

As a highly intuitive person and natural empath I know how difficult it can be to be a child, teen or young adult with these abilities. This is the book I wish my own parents had while I was growing up for it would of made my life, and theirs, far easier! My own son exhibits all the qualities I did as a child and is definitely a natural empath and highly intuitive being. Raising a child with these a natural abilities, and they are natural for we all posses them as children but are taught to shut them down by our parents, society and teachers as being purely imaginative or "sissy" qualities, can be quite difficult. Children experience the feelings of others quite acutely, but have now way to properly deal with them. This book provides real advice for parents who are willing to help foster these natural gifts. It helps parents who are not themselves intuitive to understand and relate to the behaviors their child exhibits.

I've never bought into the 'Indigo Child' phenomena. Frankly it's just too out there for me to buy into lock, stock and barrel. The highly Intuitive Child, however, is right on the money. This is probably the best book I've ever read on a child's natural abilities as an intuitive and empath. Kudos to Catherine Crawford for giving us a practical, compassionate, down to earth book on raising children.

Since my dreamy, brilliant, eccentric and mystical child was born, ten years ago, I have been recommended a plethora of books on the Indigo Child phenomenon. After a while, I began to run in the other direction when the topic came up. I don't care whether or not my child or your child is a being sent from another planet to heal ours, an old soul carrying forth the wisdom of the millenium, or an incarnated deity. I need to live with this strange, sensitive little being, and she needs to learn to live with us. Sure, I want to be compassionate to my intuitive little one, and certainly not squish her gifts in the name of conformity, but the fact is these "Indigo kids" or whatever you want to call them are not going to help anyone if they can't manage to live in our society.

So I was very happy to see that this book was down to earth, offering a balanced view of intuitive, spiritual children, and a great deal of grounded practical instruction in dealing with their unique issues. The author folds in neuroscience as well as personality types, medication, sleep and diet regimens. Her words on intuition and keeping that alive in children is useful for any parent. She uses anecdotes to bring her suggestions to life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with a sensitive little person in their home, to anyone who is startled by their child's spirituality and bizarre abilities, wants to love their child unconditionally and sensitively, but can not abide by the pollyanna advice in all those woo-woo yay-he's-a-freak books. This is one of the best, if not the best, book I've ever read on raising kids I'd rather not refer to in terms of color.

I found this book fascinating and perplexing at the same time. I was not aware of the concept of the highly intuitive child and enjoyed the narrative style of the author in introducing the joys and challenges for a child and family experiencing this gift. At the same time, I found some of the suggestions for adapting to and parenting the intuitive child to present an enormous challenge for parents to balance with normal/routine parenting skill development. I found the book to be educational, easy to read and encouraging for parents whose child or children have this special ability.½

There is not much in here that most parents do not already know. It was not very helpful.