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Achtung Baby
Achtung Baby: How to Parent Like a German | Sara Zaske
In the tradition of Bringing Up Bb, a clarion call and practical guide for a return to rational parenting, from an American woman who learned how to raise strong, self-reliant children by following the common sense approach of German parenting. When Sara Zaske moved from Oregon to Berlin with her husband and toddler, she knew the transition would be multi-layered, adding parenting and then the birth of another child into the mix. She was surprised to discover that German parents give their children a great deal of freedommuch more than Americans. In Berlin, kids walk to school by themselves, ride the subway alone, climb giant play structures, cut food with sharp knives, even play with fire. But what she didnt realize was that German parents did not share her fears and their children were thriving. Was she doing the opposite of what she intended, which was to raise capable children? Why was parenting culture so different in the States? Through her own family's often funny experiences as well as interviews with other parents, teachers, and experts, Zaske shares the many unexpected parenting lessons she learned from living in Germany. Achtung Baby reveals that today's Germans know something that American parents don't (or have perhaps forgotten) about raising kids with selbstandigkeit (self-reliance), and provides many new and practical ideas American parents can use to give their own children the freedom they need to grow into responsible, independent adults. A blend of memoir, research, and reporting, this book calls for a return to rational parenting and an exploration of the cultural shift that has occurred over the past few generations. Zaske illustrates how our American anxiety is a culturally specific rather than a globally shared modern stumbling blockwhich readers can overcome using Zaskes crucial insights into the German perspective on parenting.
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review
Smrloomis
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about (parts of) the German system as Zaske experienced it while living in Berlin with her young family.

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Smrloomis
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“In 2015, when nearly a million refugees arrived in Germany, thousands of citizens came out to greet arriving trainloads of asylum seekers.”

I know it doesn‘t fix everything, but I think it‘s good to keep this kind of image in mind sometimes. People can and do help others in need 💗

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Brooke_H
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Pickpick

Super fascinating look at the differences between parenting in America and parenting in Germany. Full of trivia about daily life in Germany. (Around 2,000 lbs of unexploded ordnance from WWII is dug up every year in Germany!) I would have liked the book to dig a little deeper into things like the home lives of German parents (chores, allowance, etc), the situation with German teens with jobs, and some stats on teen sexual assault there vs here.

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azulaco
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Pickpick

I‘ve been on vacation for a week, so I read this library book in bits between supervising kid activities. I‘m considering buying my own copy to reread every so often. The book has a middle section that wanders more than I liked, but it has excellent suggestions on loosening up and letting kids have more independence.

23 likes1 stack add
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ashsbookmarks
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I bought a large book pillow....but it is sooo large!! I‘ve been keeping it on my bed when I sleep but it may be too big to sleep with. Where do you put yours when you are not using it?
#bookpillow #read

CSeydel My daughter has one and she puts it at the foot of the bed when she‘s sleeping. (She‘s not full-length yet, though, so has more room at the end of the bed!) 6y
Arcana When I‘m not using mine, it sits on top of the hamper. 6y
ashsbookmarks @Arcana hamper is a good idea!!! 6y
Bookzombie That‘s a nice pillow! 6y
57 likes4 comments
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ashsbookmarks
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Is it time to read yet?!? 🤓📚
#read #workinggirlproblems

mypoesoul Not until that Activity Tracker is a little fuller...LOL 😋 I‘m not a good one to talk, because I never reach my goal... 🤭 6y
ashsbookmarks @mypoesoul ugh 🙄 the struggle is real! I work at a desk. Unless I go to the gym at night that never goes very far 6y
65 likes2 comments
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Jeanne_S
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Pickpick

Interesting comparison.

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FountainBookstore
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I don't have kids, but this book was recommended to me by my rep so I'm trying it. Good so far. @bookbrag

21 likes3 stack adds