are there *ANY* mums of young babies here in Athens, Greece?

[evadiopi]

Aplogies in advance this might be a bit of a ramble ..............My DS is 7 weeks old and I moved here from the UK last summer (DH is Greek). We're the first out of DH's friends to have a baby, so while we're quite novelty I don't feel I have anyone I can relate to. I didn't manage to meet any mums to be while pregnant due to 1:1 ante natal lessons with midwife which seems to be the norm here. (As does leaving your baby with yiayia and going back to work full time after a couple of months...) My research into mother and baby groups has only led me a couple which are geared more towards toddlers. Am I mistaken or is there less of a culture of mums making the most out of staying at home out here? Please give me hope and tell me there are mums hanging out with their babies, taking them to swimming, or singing groups, yoga etc! And if so how do i get in on the act?!

[evadiopi]

Btw, i speak some Greek, but it has taken a major dive since giving birth...

[alexpolismum]

I don't live in Athens (I used to), I live in Alexandroupolis in the north of Greece. I just wanted to say that in my experience, there don't seem to be any mother and baby groups here - just paidikos stathmos for older children.

What you do, is just go out with your childless friends and take the baby with you, wherever you go. If you're breastfeeding, don't let them intimidate you into stopping because so few Greek women do, and if they DARE light a cigarette anywhare near your baby, stub it out (I do that sometimes!)

[PollyLogos]

Hi I'm in Athens! My kids are all grown up now but I know quite a few foreign mums with babies/toddlers. whereabouts in Athens are you?

[evadiopi]

Oh thank you both for you replies. Sorry for not replying sooner I had given up seeing if the thread had been answered. I hope you're still there!

Alexopolismum - your message made me laugh, I do breastfeed him wherever I go and no one has dared light a cigerette yet, but they have dared ask if i would rather feed him in the toilet! The problem is I don't know anyone who doesn't work in the day time and that's what's making me feel really stuck. Everyone seems to think the answer is to work and meet people that way, but I feel really stubborn about the fact that I made the choice too stay at home with my baby and don't want to give that up, even if I can't have the life with him that I could have in UK with existing circle of friends etc. I guess on a deeper level I'm having trouble accepting where I am, and it not living up to my expectations.
Pollylogos - I live in Nea Kypseli, on the border to Poligono. And I am carless (yes I do mean car less not careless!) although I get about on bus and metro. Where are you?

[PollyLogos]

I'm in Peristeri so not that far from you. I do know of a play group which is now in Psykiko. Can you get there by bus or the metro? Because I don't get on here so much these days do send me an e-mail to adele at in dot gr and I'll let you know where it is held exactly.