French Mums in UK

[fourmi]

Hello any French mum's in the Uk. I am an English mum living in Paris, I have just started a podcast (Becoming Maman) with an American friend of mine, which takes a lighthearted look at brining up French children, even though we are not French and the fun, difficulties and culture clash we are experiencing. I am however fascinated to see how French mums in the UK cope. What are the challenges? surprising cultural differences? expectations? what is good or bad about being 'mummy' rather than 'maman'? . If anyone would be interested in sharing their stories, or even, maybe being on the podcast that would be great. I hope to hear from you. Very much appreciated. Amber

I am not a French mum, but my kids go to French school, where there are plenty of French mums. What I noticed is a lot of the French mums (at least at the school) tend to stick together. Of course there are some that are open to talking/meeting mums from other backgrounds, but some are very cold and aloof as well, and just stick to the other French mums.

Not sure the aloofness is a uniquely French trait.

I did not mean it as it was a uniquely French trait. I was using it to describe how some of the French mums are because the question was regarding French mums. There are friendly French mums as well, as I mention in my post. And there are plenty of aloof different nationalities ;) But again, the poster was asking specifically about French mums in the UK.

I think drop-off time can be so fraught that some people will cling to voices they know or who "get them". I try to chat to parents/caters of different backgrounds at that time but I respect the wishes of those who don't want to for whatever reason. Not sure parents are at their best at that pinch point in the day.

Husband is French living in UK. One big difference is in England we are quite laid back about meals, my French MIL makes 5 course sit down meals for most meals which can be a struggle for English kids. Kids are generally expected to remain silent in a restaurant in France. Other thing is my daughter is a vegetarian which results in her being shouted at by MIL and told off by waitresses in posher French restaurants as its regarded as a lack of discipline. See kids being slapped in public a lot in France.

Also, French children tend to eat dinners later then English/American kids. I had this discussion with a mom who is married to a French man and she said the in laws can't believe how early the grandkids eat when they visit. My dd also plays a lot with a little girl and the nanny said she baths the girl before dinner, as the mom likes to have dinner with her and that is a way to hold her off on dinner. I have tried this with my kids, but my kids can't go past 5 or 5:30pm for dinner and sometimes I have to feed them 4:30pm. AND I give them big snacks in the hope they will stop asking for more food...but they are always starving after school and want more more more. I see their French friends have a lot more discipline and have smaller snacks and can wait until 6 or 6:30pm for dinner. I wish my kids could at least accept the fact of not getting more food and waiting for dinner w out complaining all the time. I do notice the French kids seem to get chocolate every day after school, which they generously share with my kids...even though I ask them not to (my son gets tummy troubles from chocolate, but still eats it of course and there is no stopping it as they share it with him the second they are out, and this is before i can get to him). The French kids seem to have the ability of self control more then my kids. I wish I knew how this is achieved!

My MIL will never have meal until 9pm which is very difficult with kids.