Chambo Posted October 23, 2005 Share Posted October 23, 2005 Hello,my name is Anna - I had a baby out here 5 months ago, after moving to south Haute-Vienne just over a year ago. I was wondering if anyone would like to join me in setting up a parent / child group? The aim of this is to start a weekly or monthly informal get-together to:- improve our French for doctors appointments / schools or whatever really....- to talk about where to get good stuff for children out here (clothes, food...)- find out about child-friendly places to visit here- Resist the urge to compare our little darlings in terms of weight / ability to self-feed / whether they have a degree yet.....- drink lots of coffee and eat lots of cakeI would like to welcome anyone that is interested, to my house inSt Germain Les Belles on Thursday 17th November at 14.00I have a nice warm kitchen with a big table that we can sit around to discuss future plans for the group.Anyone with children out here are welcome (even if yours are at school) - if there is lots of interest, we could maybe move the slot to the weekend? As to the question of future venues, we could maybe move around each week, which will be a nice opportunity to see where everyone is living. If lots of people are interested, I have an elaborate plan to ask our Salle des fetes committee about the use of the village hall and then perhaps encourage French parents to join us.If you are interested or have any questions about my rather sketchy plans, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Me0wp00 Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Its an excellent idea, my friends and I have started something a bit similar and are going to try baby swopping afternoons so that we all have a bit of a break !We're in southern indre so a bit far away from you I'm afraid :o(Hope lots of people turn uptake carePippa + Jacques Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 Unless you get french mothers involved and everyone speaks french all the time then how can you improve your french. It was not with brits that I improved mine at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chambo Posted October 24, 2005 Author Share Posted October 24, 2005 Ah, thank you Pippa and Jaques for your nice message.Teamedup - in reply to your point about getting French mothers involved, I have mentioned the idea to the few people in the village that I know have children and am planning on chatting to a lady that I know in the Salle des Fetes about how best to advertise it. I just thought that the forum would be one place to start to let people know about it. I would love for anybody to be able to come if they want to. I can't find any other parent / baby groups in the surrouding area.In fact, although I've been here for over a year, I only know a handful of British people (who are lovely) and my French friends and neighbours have been incredibly supportive since I gave birth. My son was born prematurely and we were hospitalised for over a week - I can assure you that I spoke French all the time then and yes, it did improve, thank you. I hope that answers your question (if it was a question?!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 It wasn't a question.What I do know is that a group of english people who are socialising and speak very poor french, well unless they are plastered of course, which is hardly what I expect at a mother/baby group, end up speaking english together. If I am talking to an english person who speaks very poor french then I find it very hard to do other than fall into english. It really is in the frenchs' honour the way they aid and assist and generally put up with people such as myself who laboured when learning their language.There were no mother/baby groups when my boys were tots. There were no brits around either as we chose to live well away from english speakers, I often think that I would not have picked the language up, or it would not have been other than very poor if we had moved somewhere else, me having no 'ear' or gift for language. I think that the group is a good idea. With french mamans, if you can find any that don't work, it would be a great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chambo Posted October 24, 2005 Author Share Posted October 24, 2005 Hello. I just wanted to say that the aim of this group is not to have a lesson in the French language. One of the aims is to perhaps talk about any problems with language that parents might have over here - help eachother to work out what to say at the doctors, for example. This can only be a good thing for everyone concerned.The foremost aim is for people with children to make friends and to offer support to eachother. This is no money-making scheme intended to target a certain group of people - I, like any other person in the country, have the right to socialise with people in a similar situation as myself. Whether they be French, British or whatever! I apologise if I'm mistaken but I feel like I'm having to justify setting up a this group to you. I have lots of French friends (just none with children!!) - I speak French to them. I also speak English to the few Brits that I know out here. What's the problem? I could just sit at home feeling sad or be worried everytime my baby sneezes but I'd rather be proactive in meeting other parents. There was me, thinking I was doing what just about every baby book and friend recommends for people in my situation!!If I'm mistaken and you are just interested - sorry - you are more than welcome to join me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chambo Posted October 24, 2005 Author Share Posted October 24, 2005 Hello. I just wanted to say that the aim of this group is not to have a lesson in the French language. One of the aims is to perhaps talk about any problems with language that parents might have over here - help eachother to work out what to say at the doctors, for example. This can only be a good thing for everyone concerned.The foremost aim is for people with children to make friends and to offer support to eachother. This is no money-making scheme intended to target a certain group of people - I, like any other person in the country, have the right to socialise with people in a similar situation as myself. Whether they be French, British or whatever! I apologise if I'm mistaken but I feel like I'm having to justify setting up a this group to you. I have lots of French friends (just none with children!!) - I speak French to them. I also speak English to the few Brits that I know out here. What's the problem? I could just sit at home feeling sad or be worried everytime my baby sneezes but I'd rather be proactive in meeting other parents. There was me, thinking I was doing what just about every baby book and friend recommends for people in my situation!!If I'm mistaken and you are just interested - sorry - you are more than welcome to join me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted October 24, 2005 Share Posted October 24, 2005 I apologise if I'm mistaken but I feel like I'm having to justify setting up a this group to you. I was wondering why you were doing that too. I thought my last paragraph said that I thought it was a good idea and I still think with french people it would be a great idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRT17 Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 ChamboJust go ahead and do it!All new mothers need company, support and help at times. It can be a very isolated life at home with a new baby.Bonne chance et bon courage.Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vervialle Posted October 25, 2005 Share Posted October 25, 2005 Good luck to you, what a lovely idea I am near eymoutiers and do not have a baby, I hope you get a good response, I am sure there are a few young people our way who might respond perhaps you could put an add in our local advertiser.I wish you lots of luck and hope you meet some like minded people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chambo Posted October 25, 2005 Author Share Posted October 25, 2005 Thank you everyone for your lovely messages and please do 'pass it on' if you come across anyone who may be interested in joining such a group. In fact, you all seem so nice, you don't fancy just pretending to have children and coming along anyway?! I also got a PM from a couple but am having trouble checking the messages - thank you to you too and sorry that I can't reply!Cheers,Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chambo Posted October 25, 2005 Author Share Posted October 25, 2005 Thank you everyone for your lovely messages and please do 'pass it on' if you come across anyone who may be interested in joining such a group. In fact, you all seem so nice, you don't fancy just pretending to have children and coming along anyway?! I also got a PM from a couple but am having trouble checking the messages - thank you to you too and sorry that I can't reply!Cheers,Anna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma and David<P>Emma and David <P><P>Montaigu<P> Posted October 26, 2005 Share Posted October 26, 2005 Hi Anna,It was David and I that PM'd you! Sorry you can't reply either! If you would like to email us, our address is frenchbnb@hotmail.com.Best of luck with everything.Emma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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