However, I would rather have read the author's take on organic pork frams, the resurgence of beets, and upscale restaurants feeding the homeless.

It would be nice if Salon bought these kinds of stories rather than so many referential articles by journalists about journalism.

Boo turns 1 tomorrow. Looking back, we probably went overboard with our 400 euro stoller-system (frame, bassinet, car seat, older seat). We thought we would use it until Boo turned 3, or with a second child. At chrismas we bought a 80 euro ultralight Maclaren stoller and haven't looked back.

I'm grateful to live in France where I did need the help of the postpartum doula on breastfeeding. I'm pretty sure I would have given up if she hadn't come a couple of times those first two weeks.

We didn't baby-proof our house. At all. And it's a small open space. I defiantly refused to give into the "wall of death" and all the fear, guilt, etc. that implies. My husband and I both work, me four days a week, so we're only home half the time. I just keep a close eye and try to (slowly) teach Boo the things that are off-limits and block access to areas of the house, like the bathroom, that would be troublesome.

We don't watch TV with Boo except the occasional weekend afternoon rugby match. I'm generally against it -- it was important to me in choosing his nanny that she didn't plop them in front of the TV during the day. If I need that shower, I let Boo play with a couple of toys in his bed.

I do buy things for Boo that are for me, like the retro avocodo-green plastic chair that I spent 100 euros on because it was exactly the same as I had as a child at my grandparents'. I probably buy clothes that are too expensive.

Hey, I'm winging it just like everybody else and have my good baby-consumer moments and bad.

As an American married to a Frenchman and living in France, I always read these kinds of pieces hoping to see myself and my experience reflected but they always end up being "life is better over there." I find that too easy.

Both contemporary cultures have their foibles, deep cracks and wonderful traits. "French women" is such an incredible gross generalization and I guess that these writers really mean a specific type of French woman (the one they describe). They don't talk about the ones hooked on pulp mags & TV soaps who eat processed, packaged foods or the ones who are, in fact, overweight or have no fashion sense. French society may only be 60 million people but it is very diverse and simply can not be reduced to fit a single view.

I would love to read a book that takes a more nuanced view and actually discusses the (positive) things the cultures have in common.

"why are they buying so much "merde" thrown at them by the American media, by women's magazines, by hackers of packaged beauty who peddle the notion that we should all look the same...."

Um, don't you mean "hawkers" (who peddle the notion)?