The French aren't perfect, but they have some parenting secrets that really do work.

To grow up without risk is to risk not growing up.

You will miss out on some near soul mates. This goes for friendships, too. There will be unforgettable people with whom you have shared an excellent evening or a few days. Now they live in Hong Kong, and you will never see them again. That’s just how life is.

There are no grown-ups....Everyone is winging it, some just do it more confidently.

When you're wondering whether she's his daughter or his girlfriend, she's his girlfriend.

French parents are very concerned about their kids. They know about pedophiles, allergies, and choking hazards. They take reasonable precautions. But they aren't panicked about their children's well-being. This calmer outlook makes them better at both establishing boundaries and giving their kids some autonomy.

To be a different kind of parent, you don't just need a different parenting philosophy. You need a very different view of what a child actually is.