Where in Europe is the best or a good place to raise/continue raising a Family of Boys. Current ages 3 mths, 6 yrs and 9 yrs. Just day dreaming during a feed and wondered your thoughts? A bit random but DH and I often wonder how here compares and what it is like living in the big wide World Europe.
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.
Living overseas
Where is the best place in Europe to raise a family?
89 replies
Jess850 · 09/07/2012 10:04
OP posts:
Kladdkaka ·
10/07/2012 22:35
Agree with everything klad said, Sweden is excellent in many ways but healthcare is poor. Very much grit your teeth and bear it on that level.
Really? My experience is that it leaves the NHS in its dust. I have a life long disabling condition and have received more help and support in the past 4 years than in the previous 40 years in the UK and when my husband had a cancer scare, he was referred to a specialist, tested and given the all clear within 3 days. Although I do find them rather chemophobic. I was somewhat 
when I was given 2 paracetamol as pain relief following an operation.
outnumberedbymen ·
11/07/2012 13:08
it depends on sooo many factors though doesnt it? and which factor you think is most important at the moment.
Just to give an example: me and dh were both born in Germany, but I went to live abroad quite early - first a high school year in the US at 16, them after finishing school in Germany I moved to the UK to stay....and never left.
we moved back to GErmany just before ds2 was born as my mum's health was deterioting. we always always assumed, and told everyone, that we will move back to an English speaking countrxy within the next few years.
fast forward 3.5 years, ds3 is nearly 2, and ds1 and ds2 have been diagnosed with Aspergers. the amount of support both them and myself at home get is incredible! by law they are entitled to a full time 1-1 at pre-school and later at school, they get whatever additional therapies they need (ds1 gets OT and play therapy), they go to social skills group which also includes horse riding, we have a thery dog in our home twice a week....I could go on. And having children with special needs shows how much I appreciate being able to see specialists without referrals and massive waiting lists.
quality of living is also quite high here in general, and we have decided that for our children the best place to grow up is right here! Once ds1 and ds2 have completed school we will re-assess and maybe, just maybe, we can then fulfill our own dream of emigrating - maybe Oz (may absolute dream) or Canada (dh's dream).
no-one ever expected us to stay in Germany. In fact, our children grow up bilingual because we always thought we'd be back in an English speaking country sooner rather than later. But I guess priorities just change depending on circumstances.
Sorry for the essay 
PetiteRaleuse ·
11/07/2012 13:10
The reality of France is very different. I would only recommend someone moved here if:
- they already knwe conversational French and were willing to become fluent
- they worked out the finances of everything realistically
- had savings / were coming to a decent job
- understood that France is a foreign country and things are different here
- understood that the French are different people and are willing to try and 'get' them rather than frogbash
- understand that baked beans are more expensive because they are imported, and that most things they want to eat which are specific to an English diet are either unavailable or more expensive
Can you tell I have had enough of expats over here whining?
That said it is a great place to live if you are willing to really try and fit in, embrace the French way of living and not just be part of an expat clique. The locals are understandably, in some areas, resentful of expats coming and pushing property prices through the ceiling and then sitting there getting drunk on rosé and being loud and rude about everything French. I'm thinking in areas like the Dordogne and Charente, where some villages have become pretty much everything I hate about Little England.
I'm guessing though that my rant above would pretty much apply to people wanting to move to any country. Nothing against you OP - I think moving abroad for the right reasons is brave and a great experience. I just get annoyed with UK expats over here
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.