Seriously? Heck no! I live in a large city so my apartment building is a cultural mosaic. I know exactly two French families. The mother of the first set off her fire alarm daily and the other let their kids run around in the halls ad nauseum. They knocked over a delivery man while playing soccer in the halls one afternoon and can be heard screaming down the halls up to 11:30pm. I won't pretend to judge a whole nation based on two families, but feel free to read any world travel survey. The French as a people are not known for being courteous, personable or polite, or for their work ethic.
I agree with the author, about, little miss cancels at the last second, but I have the sneaking suspicion that the author isn't a perfect parent herself (and who is really
). My Grandma knew some ill mannered little pills when she was little, and there will be a few when my great grandchild is born. I suspect if the author was truly being honest with herself she knew a few back in France herself.
I for one never noticed some big difference when I crossed the border into Buffalo.