Only in France. As anyone who follows "work-family" issues knows, France offers among the best family-friendly benefits of any industrialized nation. Subsidized, quality child care. Free health care. A nanny who will come to your house after the baby is born and help you out.

But what book is on the best seller lists in France? A book called No Kid: 40 Reasons Not to Have Children. Written somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the book by French economist/psychoanalyst (and mother!!) Corinne Maier is meant to poke fun at France's child-centered culture. (Maier's last best seller was another humorous little tract called Bonjour Panesse (Hello Laziness), which advocated a slacker work ethic.)

Of course, the US is in the grips of one of the most intense child-centered cultures--and a backlash is coming too. Remember the flight attendant who threw the mother and her talkative toddler off the plane because the baby's constant chatter annoyed her? Take a look online, and you'll find plenty of people who are sympathetic to the flight attendant, having spent far too much time around parents who think everyone finds their little darlings as darling as they do.

The only difference, though, is France has generous benefits for parents. Here, it's every man and mom for themselves. Maybe that's why so many of us expect and demand others to treat our children like special gems. Stumble It!