But the scientist in me is driven crazy but the faux comparative analysis. You cannot say that the middle class or upper middle class scenarios are equal when the french have universal health care, more vacation time, shorter work weeks and numerous other mechanisms which make life just easier all around. French families are not nearly as stressed about the things which drive american families to be stressed even before they get to actual parenting. The irony of this being in the WSJ!
All those government benefits come at the cost of high taxes, which can also stress families trying to make ends meet. Social spending in the U.S. is higher now than it was a half-century ago, and I don't think that has reduced stress. I think the article is correct to say that French parents have different expectations for their children, which makes their parenting less unpleasant.
