| An ongoing debate in France complicates the notion that there is an overarching secret to raising kids à la française.  Illustration by Kimberly Elliott American parents of a particular persuasion are convinced that their French counterparts have solved all the riddles of raising children. “French kids sleep through the night practically straight from birth,” Lauren Collins writes, of the prevailing line of thought, in a new Letter from Europe. “They eat leeks and beets and blue cheese, greeting guests at the door with kisses to the cheek and then disappearing to entertain themselves while their well-slept, boundary-conscious elders enjoy their cocktails.” This has inspired envy, despair, and attempts at emulation, but Collins points out that this perception would be news to actual French parents, as would the idea that there is a single, national consensus on child-rearing. And the story takes a further twist: while we were busy admiring the French, they were importing some of our own parenting neuroses. “Like cupcakes and athleisure,” Collins writes, “the parenting wars have come to France.” Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » | 
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