Travelling between France and US, offers me the opportunity to find the best gears for my kids.
So I would like to share with you some of the things I really appreciate from France and US. With the first baby I discovered not always at the right time all the things I would love to have for the second baby.
For me the first things I brought back from US were the vibrating bouncer from Fisher Price and the Bassinet from Kolcraft. I just could not live without them. The baby was always in movement in his mother tummy so when it doesn’t move he cries so I had always the cradle close to my bed that I could move with one hand when he was crying. And to be all set some people just swear by the Ergo baby Carrier and the Phil&Teds stroller.
When my kids grow-up I found in US something to give medicine and to feed them without chocking.
When you are in France some brands are really appreciated in US such as: Petit Bateau (be careful they don’t cut the pyjamas in the same way in France and US), Jacadi, Mustela. It is really good brands and more expensive in US. Now you are ready for a smart shopping!
One of the great things I discovered in US is the mother groups.
When I had my first baby and moved in California, my little girl was 2 years and half and just started talking in French. I didn’t want to mix up her head with two different languages so I joined a French mother group. It was really great because you have french people but also american mothers that speak a very good french, so every week my kids could join this group and I could meet new people. I highly recommend to google "french mother group" in the city of your choice or to look in Yahoo! groups.
In Silicon Valley you also have another american mother group named Las Madres. Like other mother groups you have a meeting once or twice a week, in your area with your kids age.
In Paris I joined an english mother group, Message. Message is really cool, because once my kids had started to speak french and english I wanted they still be connected with this community. To celebrate Thanksgiving, Halloween, or the Valentin’s day, it is not as warm as in US but it sounds like good memories. You have weekly meetings with children of the same ages, you have a forum, twice a year you can sell all your old kids stuff…but indeed it brings you more than that!
In Boston I joined the Gardenmom group. To be honest I never attended a meeting but I use it to be in contact of what’s going on in this city, to find a good hairdresser, to know where to buy specific things for my kids and myself…
So if you don’t belong already to a mother group, don’t hesitate, your kids will really have fun and you can meet your new best friend!
As a French parent I raise my kids in a both environments. The Alliance Française is always a good resource to find events, information… for the one who wants to be in a French network.
So this year if you want to be in a French mood the French Library Alliance Française of Boston propose differents events to celebrate Bastille Day. A French Film Festival at the Museum of Fine Arts, July 9 – 26, a welcoming ceremony for two Poitou donkeys, just arrived from France July 12 at 1:30 pm. And of course the 14th of July they celebrate Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité at Boston’s own Bastille, the Liberty Hotel!
And in case of a good weather, we can still hope, the brasserie Miel a French Brasserie will feature the French game of ‘boules de pétanque’ (similar to the game of boccie) the 11th of July from 5-10pm.
And for live entertainment, dancing, Harvard Square will be the place, July 12th from 3pm-1am. So let’s celebrate the summer to have sun!
French, Gear | admin | 
July 20, 2009 9:54 PM | 
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