Achtung Baby: An American Mom in Berlin Learns the Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. From the publisher - (edited for length and clarity)

In the tradition of Bringing Up Bebe and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, 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 freedom--much 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 didn't 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? 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.

I think that this book is a rift on the "Europeans do it so much better" ala fika and hygge and everything Scandinavian, Finnish schools being better and Danish Parenting, etc. etc. Did I learn anything from the book? Not really ... I was raised to be self-reliant and not to turn to an anxious mummy who is wondering if her friends are judging her for how she raised her kids. This book feeds into the horrifying aspect of MOMMY SHAMING that is so evidenced in social media --- even celebrities get Mommy Shamed!

Will you learn something from this book? Maybe .. but I would not really, in my honest opinion, recommend this book as you won't really learn anything new and usable until YOU turn off your anxiety and not worry about feeling bad about how you raise YOUR kid. Work on that and then maybe read this book.