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Eating seasonal fruit, vegetables, and seafood is simply the best choice whenever possible: it is good for the planet, good for your wallet, and good for your tastebuds. Now that we are out of the cold, dark winter days, it also becomes a bit easier to eat seasonally in Paris as we see increasing options available to us at markets and shops. Spring produce Spring produce is an absolute breathe of fresh air. We finally get fresh and punchy flavors that nod at the warmer temperatures to come. Cooking times shorten and colors brighten. Here are the seasonal fruits and vegetables you can expect to see in French markets in spring: Asparagus, banana, red cabbage, watercress, endive, spinach, fennel, strawberries, wild strawberries (fraise des bois), turnips, onion, sorrel, grapefruit, leeks, pea pods, apples, radishes, rhubarb, salad, artichokes, cucumber, zucchini, and peas. Seasonal seafood Produce isn't the only food that is seasonal; did you know fish and seafood are seasonal too? In springtime, look for the following types of fish in France: Northern pike (brochet) Cod (cabillaud) Hake (colin) Sea bream (dorade) Herring (hareng) Lobster (homard) Salmon (saumon) Meal ideas to consider Wondering how to put some of these seasonal items to good use?Try some of these ideas: Add strawberries to porridge/oatmeal Add sorrel and radishes too a salad to freshen up the flavor factor Create a spring pasta dish with artichokes, leeks, peas, and asparagus Sheet pan chicken thighs with fennel, sundried tomatoes, and turnips Apple rhubarb whole grain muffins for a make-ahead breakfast or goûter Roasted red cabbage drizzled with tahini Baked cod and zucchini fritters (similar to crab cakes, but seasonal, veggie-packed, and easy to make at home!) Or why not try a seasonal sheet pan dinner? It makes the perfect one-pan meal, is loaded with flavor, and pairs perfectly with some brown rice or local bread. Don't eat fish? Try swapping in tofu! Check out the recipe below! Spring Sheet Pan Salmon (serves 4) Ingredients: 1 jar of artichokes, drained 2 leeks, tough green ends removed, tender white and light green parts sliced 1 bunch of asparagus, tough ends trimmed and cut into 3cm segments 1 fennel bulb, sliced 1 tsp fresh or dried oregano Salt, pepper 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided 4 salmon filets 1 garlic clove, unpeeled Juice of 1/2 lemon Optional: brown rice or farro for serving Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 205 degrees C. 2. Combine artichokes, leeks, asparagus, and fennel on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper to taste, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Toss until well combined. Roast for 15 minutes. 3. Remove vegetables from oven. Layer salmon filets on top of vegetable mixture and season with salt and pepper. Nestle garlic clove among vegetables on baking sheet. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until salmon is opaque throughout. 4. Once vegetables are crisp/tender and salmon is cooked through, remove baking sheet from the oven. Remove the pulp of garlic clove from its peel, place in a bowl and mash with a fork until it resembles a paste. Add lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and whisk with the fork until well combined. 5. If serving with a grain like brown rice, serve salmon and vegetables over the grain and drizzle the lemon-garlic mixture over everything. Otherwise, drizzle lemon garlic mixture over the salmon and vegetables on the baking sheet and serve. About the author: Stephanie Rink, MS, RD, LDN is a US-trained Registered Dietitian with nearly 10 years of experience helping expat families feel confident about food choices for themselves and their growing families. She offers nutrition coaching services for families looking to expand, pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children through a family-inclusive and intuitive eating lens. littlesproutnutrition.com The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

As hard as it is to imagine, at some point all of our kids will ride public transit alone. This might be as they graduate to commuting to school alone, or it may become a need as they grow in their independent friendships and become too independent to have a chaperone at all times. There are two ways we can address this developmental leap as parents: ignore it as long as possible and hope they hold our hands on the metro forever (tempting, I know!), or teach them to become independent, responsible, and safe when using public transportation on their own. There is no rush to giving your child the freedom to ride public transit alone, but taking small steps to make smart practices a habit can keep your kid safe while giving you peace of mind that they are capable. Here is our list of suggestions for how to ensure your child is safe while riding public transportation solo: Phone is a must (NOT smartphone when younger as can be distracting). A phone call or text when leaving is imperative. Some schools will not allow phones or smart watches even turned off, so make sure you ask the school what the rules are. Familiarity with the route and also with alternative routes is essential. Even if it’s an easy route, the kid has to know how to decide if they should walk, wait, or call for help if the bus or metro suddenly stops or they need to get off for any reason. Consider the time of day. It is best (especially for younger kids) to only let them out solo when it is still light outside. Keep time of year in mind too - maybe you wouldn’t let a 10 year old out alone after dark, but by starting in spring/summer there is plenty of time to practice before winter when the same route will be dark as of 16:45. Decide when your individual kid is ready. Some kids are more capable at younger ages, whereas others are not. Your child needs to be able to not be distracted and remain calm if something unexpected comes up. If they will be crossing streets, keep in mind that until 12 years old kids cannot judge oncoming traffic speeds accurately. Make sure they are the type of kid who will stop and wait at the red light even if there are no cars, or find the safest route for them. Role play and discuss scenarios. My biggest hurdle with my oldest has been explaining that you NEVER RUN FOR A BUS OR METRO. Just take the next one, even if you’re late. Running often means high stress and likelihood of accident. Other scenarios to discuss or role play: What do you do if someone is staring at you? Who are adults you should speak with first (maybe parent with child or a bus driver)? Where should you sit on the bus/metro (encourage them not to be isolated)? How can you contact the police or SAMU if you need to? There are so many possible scenarios but you can start to talk through those early on by narrating what we do as adults, even to young kids. This makes them more aware as they get older. Why did mommy change trains? Why did we decide not to get on the metro that was too packed with people? Etc Take small steps. We’re currently on one trip home per week as we get ready for 6eme. We’re a 30 minute walk from school and a 20 min bus ride. Adjust depending on your own circumstances and distance/trajectory, but remember that it is a new situation for kids so take it at their own pace (and yours!). Ensure all important information is memorized before the first solo trial (i.e. address, door codes, phone numbers). Remember, phones die, keys get lost, routes need to change based on the transit, etc.. Create your safety net. We’ve had our neighbors kids come by ours twice in the past month because they got locked out - where would your kids go if you aren’t home and they need to speak to a trusted adult? Get to know a trusted neighbor if possible, or someone who could go get your child if they need help on the way and you aren’t right next door. Breathe. Remember that we rode bikes (sometimes without helmets!) and didn’t necessarily have cell phones at 10 years old and had to learn these skills. Living in a city may make things more complicated in some ways but it also means we tend to helicopter around kids longer. Small steps and lots of communication. And a glass of wine the first few times :) Feel free to comment with your own suggestions for teaching your kids to stay safe as they venture out on their own! About the author: Courtney Bachelard is a long-time member and the Primary School Kids co-leader. Mom of Celia Rose (11) and Luna-Mae (5), she is originally from New Jersey/New York and has been a Paris resident since 2009. *A version of this article originally appeared in the Message magazine, which is mailed to all members who live in France. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

Congrats! Your child has been accepted into daycare (crèche). It is not an easy feat in the Paris region. If this is your first time with childcare, or first time using daycare in France, you might not be sure what to expect. The following article will cover general topics about crèche collective (not about crèche parentale, or assistantes maternelles). Personally, I have recent experience with a child in both private and public crèche, as a baby and as a toddler, for a total of three years (not counting Covid lockdowns and holidays of course). This allowed me to see how different crèches were run, and what sending a baby versus a walking toddler was like. My daughter benefited greatly from both crèches and I am so glad we had the opportunity to be a part of these little communities. Here are some general things to know before starting crèche: Staff Directeur/Directrice: The head of the crèche is the directrice, they will be in email contact with you once you are accepted, about paperwork and contract. The directrice has extensive training and experience in early childhood development and often have degrees in nursing. They are in charge of staffing, communication with parents, and the general running of the crèche. Expect to get emails from the directrice about contagious illnesses or lice, they notify all parents if there are cases of Covid, lice, chicken pox, hand, foot and mouth disease etc. This is so parents can decide whether or not to keep their kids home, or to monitor them for symptoms. I always appreciated the transparency of communication and knew that the health and safety of the children was being prioritized. Staff Caregivers: The crèche caregivers, les professionnels, are trained in child development and safety and depending on their education are auxiliaires de puéricultrices, or éducateurs de jeunes enfants. Crèche Chef: Each crèche has a dedicated chef, cuisinier, to prep bottles and make meals. They also maintain the standards of food safety from storage to preparation to sanitation. Additional professionals: our public crèche had a psychologist who would visit all the crèches in the city monthly, they were there for staff to talk to and parents if there were any concerns about the development of the children. If your crèche is bilingual or has an aim of teaching another language, there might be a professional who occasionally comes in to read to the children in the target language. Sometimes there were child development interns who were doing a stage and the crèche always notified the parents with a sign explaining who the new person was and what they were doing. The crèche might help you out with identifying all the different staff members, one we went to had the names and photos of all the staff on display. Safety information: The staff also do fire drills and lockdown drills with the children. In the case of a fire drill they have to evacuate all children within a mandated minimum time. In case of a lock down drill, they have to move all children into a safe room within a mandated amount of time. The creche has different alarms for the different scenarios. Feel free to ask them if you have any questions about the drills. Additional information about holiday and end-of-year gifts: It is customary to give gifts to the staff before the Christmas vacances and at the end of the year in summer. What one gives can vary from chocolate or a homemade baked good for the team, to gift cards when your child “graduates”. It is really up to you and how you want to thank them, they work very hard and aren’t paid very much. Facilities It is normal, for security reasons, to not get a tour until you start crèche adaptation. Crèche facilities include (ideally) stroller/pram storage, an office for the directrice, cubbies for the kids’ clothes and shoes, interior play rooms with changing facilities and kids’ potties, sleeping rooms, a break room for staff, kitchen, and exterior play area. The play rooms will have equipment and toys appropriate for the development of the kids. A baby room will have foam mats, small beanbag cushions, mirrors for stimulation on the walls and beginner level climbing furniture like a wide wooden step/slide. Toddler rooms will have everything from play kitchens to Pikler-esque triangles, as well as dolls and blocks and magnetic tiles. Any furniture is selected for functionality and safety, for example special chairs for the staff to sit in while giving bottles. Because kids like to climb, there is a limited amount of furniture, and the space is used for play areas. (You or your partner might see this yourselves. All crèches start a child at their facility by going through roughly a week of slowly adjusting to the crèche, with one parent coming with them, called adaptation. We will be posting about what to expect in a crèche adaptation soon!) Organization of Crèches Crèches vary by number of children and the layout of the building. Because crèches accept babies from two months old to toddlers three and a half years old, there are a lot of different needs! One we went to separated the kids by ability to walk. There was a baby room, then as soon as they could walk upstairs, they went to the big kids room upstairs. In the baby room, each baby had a dedicated caregiver. Another crèche we went to mixed all the kids of all ages together, with a special area for babies with a dedicated caregiver for the babies. There are rules which say how many babies or toddlers are allowed per caregiver, so there isn’t a problem with ratios of kids to caregivers. By law in France, crèches collectives have either 1 caregiver for 6 children, or 1 caregiver per 5 children who cannot walk and 1 caregiver per 8 children who can walk. Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures Crèches are very secure, the entrance to the facility will require a code, one crèche we used had two locked doors needing codes to get in. Additionally, they need to know who is coming in to pick up the children. For example, my mother while visiting, picked up my daughter a few times and we emailed the crèche directrice in advance with my mom’s name and upon arrival, the directrice checked my mom’s passport to verify who she was. The safety of the children is their priority. The crèches are also dedicated to cleanliness. Because there are so many babies and toddlers on the ground, parents wear (provided) shoe covers inside the crèche. The covers are provided outside of the play room and you put them on before entering, and you put the used covers in a box when leaving. When bringing a child in the morning, there is a step to check in whether it be a touch screen for you or it is logged by the staff. This matters because hours and days are an important part of your contract with the crèche (if you go over time, you will be charged), and they schedule staff around when the kids are coming and going because of the mandated ratios of kids to staff. Kids’ shoes and jackets and extra clothes go in cubbies. (Don’t worry if your kid has an accident and you don’t have their extra clothes that day-the crèche has extra clothes to dress your kid in, simply wash and bring back). For babies, there is a counter height surface in the entrance to the play room, to easily change them out of their jackets. Both crèches we used had signs about safety while using the table and the directrice verbally corrected parents who did not have a hand on their child the entire time they were on the changing table. Again, they are always thinking about safety. Communication at Check-in and Check-out When you drop your kid off in the morning the staff might ask you a few questions (they call it transmission). When my daughter was a baby, they wanted to know when she last had milk, so they knew when to feed her again. It is important at check in to tell them things about your kids’ physical state like “she didn’t want to eat this morning”, “he didn’t sleep much last night”, “she had shots/jabs yesterday”, etc. to give the staff a basic overview of what your kid might be like that day or something specific you want them to watch out for. When you pick your child up, the staff will tell you about the day and you can ask any specific questions. I had one crèche (private) who would take notes throughout the day about what she did. When she was older, they didn’t give much information other than if she slept. What to Bring to Crèche? There are a lot of things to bring to crèche, (and not bring). Clothes: Our private crèche for my baby had a good rule to dress a baby in a vest/onesie and leggings (I’m guessing it was for comfort for the baby, as well as practicality for the caregivers. The babies took naps in their onesies and then had leggings put back on after they woke up). This is all to say, choose clothes comfortable for a kid to wear all day (and no dresses for crawling babies). Also, choose shoes (for older kids especially) that are velcro or easy to get on. I witnessed a lot of little kids in leather lace-up shoes and can’t imagine how much patience the caregivers had fiddling with laces. In the spring, I packed a hat that tied under my daughter’s chin, but the crèche also had little hats for all the kids (don’t assume yours will though, and buy the hat ahead of a sunny day). Side note: it is generally a good idea to get clothes a season ahead so you aren’t left scrambling for t-shirts or boots. Doudou: The French have a cultural belief that every child should have one stuffed animal, called a doudou, that is brought to crèche, preschool (maternelle), and generally everywhere with the child. If you can, encourage your child to choose a doudou (or choose for them, if possible) that you can buy multiples of. My child bonded with a Jellycat rabbit then I quickly bought a second and would take turns washing them. Doudous are so ubiquitous, around town it is not uncommon to see found doudous propped up on fences and see posts on local groups of parents trying to find their child’s lost doudou. Baby care items: One crèche asked us to bring in our own Doliprane (to give if the child develops a fever) and nasal saline drops(when she was a baby), the other crèche didn’t. In the spring, they asked us to bring in sunscreen and put it on my child before letting her outside to play. What is provided: Crèche will provide diapers and all food and drink. If your child doesn't drink all their milk (formula) in the morning, for example, you can’t bring the bottle into crèche for them to give to your child. If you are breastfeeding, talk to them about bringing in milk. Daily Schedule of the Crèche Each crèche follows a schedule, you can ask what yours is. Roughly, for big kids it goes: arrivals, welcome song, morning play (outside time if it isn’t raining), lunch, nap, afternoon play, snack time (goûter), outside time. The caregivers rotate toys and music, and plan out different activities to do with the kids which is really nice for their development and stimulation. A baby-specific room will have meals at the same time as the big kids but if a baby is sleepy, they put them down for a nap at that moment-so there isn’t a set nap time for babies. The caregiver will get to know your baby and when they sleep, and not force them to sleep. At first, I was worried what would happen when my daughter wouldn’t nap, but they never pushed it. When my daughter was a toddler, and most kids were napping, she would be allowed to leave the nap room and go play quietly in the play room. Holiday Schedule Write down the holidays the crèche is closed, on all of your calendars! Don’t do what I did; one year, I took my child to the crèche on November 11th and was so confused to find it closed. Schedules are usually emailed and/or posted in the entrance. Also, crèches have different schedules. Some crèches are open well into the summer. Some follow the school year and close at the end of June. One crèche we went to (public) closed for one week of every school vacances during the year. (The crèche did give the option of sending your child to a crèche that was open during vacances and accepted all the kids from crèches that closed). Meals Most obviously, tell the crèche about any allergies your child has. The crèche will post the weekly menu for lunch and goûter in the entrance for parents to see. You’ll notice the menu is divided into three groups, based on the eating ability of the children (from purees to solids). The menu is always balanced with things like a cheese course, seasonal produce (and these never repeat within a week), and a vegetarian day. There are indications for organic products, AOC/AOP products, and how the animals are raised. This is part of the French cultural philosophy that children are exposed to many foods, early, and those ingredients are high quality (this will continue into the cafeterias, cantines, in public schools). The dedicated chef for the crèche prepares all the meals (and bottles for the babies), and some items are made in-house like the vinaigrette for the salads. The caregivers of the babies will put bibs on the babies and hold them or put them in high chairs and spoon feed them. The bigger kids will go to the dining room and sit at tables and wear bibs while a caregiver sits at the table and supervises the meal. When a child is ready to eat at the next level of meal (like from purées to pieces of food) the caregiver will transition them. They also teach the children how to drink out of open cups, hold utensils, and basic eating etiquette. One crèche let us bring in birthday cake when our daughter was a big kid, as long as it was commercially made with a list of ingredients, to serve to the kids at goûter. My daughter had a really good experience eating at crèche. She tried so many different foods and would actually eat foods at the crèche, that she wouldn’t normally eat at home. She even taught me the correct way to eat Petit Suisse after I was confused by her asking me to serve it on a plate! Questions to ask a Crèche: How many kids are there? What if I am late? How do I tell you if my child is sick and not coming in that day? Do you accept kids with a low temperature? What if I have another caregiver picking up? Can I bring in a birthday cake for my child’s birthday? Are you looking for recommendations for local crèche? Ask our members for help on our Members Forum. Don’t speak French yet? We have been there! Check out our other blog post about French vocabulary for crèche! And stay tuned for our next post about crèches, the adaptation. By the way, if you used crèche parentale, or assistante maternelle, we would love to have blog posts preparing our members, so consider writing a post! The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

As we strive to create and curate more inclusive and fair communities, I wanted to draw our attention to an incredibly important topic in perinatal health. Monday April 11th (2023) was the start of Black Maternal Health week in the USA, and from 24th-30th April 2023, it is Black Maternal Health week in the UK. Both initiatives aim to raise awareness of the proportionally greater health risks facing Black mothers*. And crucially, both initiatives aim to set the context for demanding societal and policy changes which will protect and save Black lives. Ibram X. Kendi, in his excellent How to Raise an Anti-racist, opens the book with a personal and vivid description of his partner Sadiqa’s experiences of perinatal care in the USA. As a pregnant Black woman, her concerns about her physical symptoms were twice dismissed by probably well-meaning healthcare staff; as a paediatric doctor, she was able to channel her concerns into accessing the care which ultimately saved their baby’s life. Black parental health, both physical and mental, is a fundamentally important topic for us to know about and take action to redress the too often fatal imbalance of care. What do we know about the experiences of pregnant Black women? Of course, it differs from country to country, but the picture in countries in which people of colour are in the minority highlights a stark disparity. This a huge problem worldwide but in this post, I am focusing on two major English-speaking countries, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, from whom much of the research originates. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the US, Black women are 3 times as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and between 2-5 times as likely to have “near- misses,” a situation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The picture in the UK is similar, with Black mothers of 4 times more likely to die than their white counterparts. Brazil, another country with a history of enslavement of African individuals, reveals similarly appalling numbers, with one study showing that mothers of colour were 3.5 times more likely to die than white mothers. Nonetheless, recent research in the States indicates that over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, another jaw-dropping statistic. The picture in France is far less clear. One study by Philibert and colleagues found the risk of maternal mortality in women of foreign nationality was double that of French nationals, in particular for women of sub-Saharan African nationality. But further clarification on the relationship between ethnicity and perinatal health is not possible, due to France’s approach to collecting data on ethnicity. (See also Germany and Canada for example). In France, it is illegal to collect data relating to race or ethnicity, except under limited circumstances. This is in the context of a “colour-blind” approach to citizens. There is also an historical legacy of abuse of data in the collaborationist Vichy regime in World War II when identity cards allowed authorities to identify Jewish people for transport to concentration camps. The absence of any data therefore makes it impossible to state quantitatively whether there are different experiences for groups with different ethnic backgrounds in France. In 2020, government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye, a French woman of Senegalese origin, called publicly for the debate around ethnic data collection to be opened, but so far, there has been no political appetite for this. Why is this disparity happening? Authors Latoya Hill, Samantha Artiga and Usha Ranji argue that in the States at least, “health disparities are driven by social and economic inequities that are rooted in historic and ongoing racism and discrimination.” People of colour are more likely to have barriers to care in the States, and further, Black pregnant people may be more likely to have healthcare providers who do not listen to them, or were slow to listen to their concerns. This is in part due to implicit bias, as authors Bani Salujha and Zenobia Bryant argue in their review paper. Implicit bias refers to the thoughts and feelings we have outside of our conscious awareness, but which nonetheless contribute towards our attitudes and behaviours. For example, one study in 2019 showed a racial bias in white participants towards under-recognition of pain in Black faces compared to white faces, something which has clear implications for appropriate access to healthcare, even when financial barriers such as insurance are lifted. What can be done? What can I do? In France, we cannot point to research indicating any disparity of outcome for Black mothers. But hearing from mothers themselves for example is a rich source of information: blogger Diariatou Kebe has published her own experiences and reflections in her book Maman Noire et Invisible (which you can buy online at FNAC for example) to help guide other Black mamans through pregnancy and beyond. It’s also worth taking inspiration from countries which can quantify the problems faced by people of colour. In the US, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance founded a week-long public health campaign to raise awareness of these problems. Their theme in the 6th annual event (2023) is “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy.” You can find out more and participate right now through the hashtag #BMHW23. In the U.K. four years ago, campaign group Five x More founded a week’s awareness campaign for Black Maternal Health, this year with the theme “Respectful Maternity Care.” It’s running from 24th -30th of April 2023 and you can find out more through #BMHAW23. Both campaigns provide plenty of resources on their websites for Black birthing people, their partners and their allies. Political action is one key route to improving outcomes. In 2020, Five x More successfully raised enough signatures on a petition entitled “Improve Maternal Mortality Rates and Health Care for Black Women in the U.K.” for the topic to be debated in the UK parliament two years ago, leading to a commitment from the government to fund research into the factors associated with the higher risk for Black mothers (and those from other minority ethnic backgrounds) and to provide a greater continuity of care for people throughout pregnancy and birth. The Motherhood Group, a British social enterprise designed to support and improve the Black maternal health experience, hosted the first Black Maternal Health conference in the UK in March 2023. Increasing access to relevant information for those who are pregnant and their healthcare providers is also a crucial component. In the US, the CDC campaign Hear Her encourages pregnant people, their loved ones and healthcare providers to watch out for and communicate urgent maternal warning signs (see below). They encourage people to have confidence in their knowledge of their own body – to be able to say I know my body and something doesn’t feel right. Urgent Pregancy Warning Signs Severe headache Dizziness or fainting Changes in your vision Fever Trouble breathing Overwhelming tiredness Chest pain Severe belly pain Severe nausea and throwing up Severe swelling Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby In the U.K., each month the Positive Birth Company offers 100 Black pregnant people free access to their online birthing course https://www.fivexmore.com/pbc and the Motherhood Group offers free counselling sessions to mothers in the UK. It can be easy to feel disempowered when we are faced with injustices, frightened if we are implicated in the statistics and helpless if we can’t see what we can do to improve a situation. If this resonates with what you have experienced reading through this blog post, I would encourage you to reflect on what actions, no matter how small, you can take which are in line with your values around this topic. For example, for me it has been engaging with the education offered by the individuals and organisations highlighting problems and advocating for change. As small as this is, I know that the more I understand a situation, the more creatively I will be able to think about ways I can contribute positively. About the author: Sophie Wallace-Hadrill trained as a clinical psychologist in the UK and now works in Paris offering therapy and coaching, specialising in supporting parents. She facilitates the Monday morning Message Maternal Mental Wellbeing group. You can find out more about her work at www.sophiepsychology.com * This post focuses on initiatives and research which focuses on cis-female mothers, and so I mainly use this language. However, I also refer in the post to pregnant people and birthing people (e.g. women AND folk who are trans, non-binary etc) as part of a commitment to make my writing more inclusive. I’ve also capitalised the B in Black to reflect the wider historical and cultural experiences of the community. This choice of language is because I hope this blog post will be relevant to the widest possible audience. I will make mistakes, and when you notice them, if you would like to share, I welcome your feedback. If you would like to know more about writing inclusively, I can highly recommend Carrie Klassen’s work www.carrieklassen.com Further reading: Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality https://www.cdc.gov/healthequity/features/maternal-mortality/index.html Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Health: Current Status and Efforts to Address Them https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-bri ef/racial-disparities-in-maternal- and-infant-health-current-status-and-efforts-to-address-them/ Racial Disparities in COVID-19: Key Findings from Available Data and Analysis https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and -health-policy/issue-brief/racial-disparities-covid-19- key-findings-available-data-analysis/ Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care (MBRRACE-UK) https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/assets/downloads/mbrrace-uk/repo rts/maternal-report- 2021/MBRRACE-UK_Maternal_Report_2021_-_Lay_Summary_v10.pdf Can excess maternal mortality [in France] among women of foreign nationality be explained by suboptimal obstetric care? https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wile y.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1471- 0528.2008.01860.x?saml_referrer. Global Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5608036/ How Implicit Bias Contributes to Racial Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2020.8874 Perceptual contributions to racial bias in pain recognition https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31070440/ Health in colour: black women, racism, and maternal health by Elizabeth Dayo, Kayonne Christy and Ruth Habte https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanam/article/PIIS2667-193X(22)00225-3/fulltext The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

by Ilka Elimadi My Mum’s birthdays were the best. Not only because of the parties that gave my brother and me a hint of adult life – or so we thought when we discovered the aftermath: alcohol, cigarettes and strange messages written on the ceiling with candle soot. But also because the gifts my mum received were wrapped in the nicest wrapping paper, the kind only the fancy stores used: embossed or with metallic print. We would always carefully take off the adhesive tape, unwind bows and iron the paper for future use or – more important to me – so I could use it as crafting material. When we ourselves wrapped gifts it would be in recycled wrapping paper, newspaper or simply fabric – not knowing back than that the later was an art form in Japan and called Furoshiki. I don’t think my mum ever spent money on wrapping paper. Growing up with a single mother and a sister she was used to living frugally. Vintage wasn’t en vogue Everything was recycled: old socks – if impossible to mend – turned into rags, all containers were reused and pullovers we had grown out of were unravelled and re-knitted a size larger. I got to wear all my elder cousin’s clothes and the six years age gap between us meant they were always out of fashion when they finally fit me. My grandmother showed me how to alter baggy pants into carrot legs, and as a teenager I finally accepted not to fit in clothes-wise and declared second-hand my style. Back then, vintage wasn’t en vogue and secondhand stores sold by the kilo. We repaired, re-used, recycled. I remember well when my grandmother, a passionate baker and crafter, and someone who had to watch her spending all her life, declared she would stop making her own Christmas cookies – because the ingredients cost many times more than the cookies itself. These days ready-made is cheap and readily available, but we don’t pay adequately for labour. DIY on the other hand is a business. When I grew up it was a necessity. Food for us was also frugal. Homemade was everything and leftovers needed to be eaten. The green movement and whole foods consciousness in Germany of the late 70s and early 80s led my mother to grind her own flour and bake her own bread – not even a cookie was store-bought. We were low waste without knowing it. And although my parents are pretty well off today, my mum still lives quite frugally. Or is it the other way round: are they well off because of my mum’s frugal habits? I let convenience take over When I moved out I realized that she had trained me well. I would never buy paper towels (resources!), aluminum foil (energy!) or cling film (plastic waste!). Vinegar, Indian soap nuts and oxbile soap were my only detergents. Until I moved to France. Not only did I not find any Indian soap nuts in stores, but I also realized they did not really work well on baby poo and vomit. Paper towels came into my house, because of, well, baby spitting up. Eventually I gave up on washcloth and water only and bought baby wipes. There was no time to grind my flour let alone bake bread. Finally, the worst of all (packaging-wise) entered my house: fruit pouches! I wanted to like the silicon reusable one I had bought. But somehow it was never clean when I needed it, or there was no homemade organic puree to fill it with at hand (surprise!). And frankly the squirting mechanism wasn’t working – there was puree everywhere and you know, the eco-friendly detergent replacing the Indian soap nuts didn’t work on carrot stains either. In all honesty, I went the convenient route. And with two more children it seemed more attractive and less shameful to do so. Fast forward to the end of August 2018 I was listening to France Inter when Nicolas Hulot announced his resignation as minister for the environment. His sad, mourning voice is still in my head. It shook me up. We are going to mourn so much more if we don’t act now. Why wait for governments to stand up to the industry and lobbyists? I have a choice. What can I do? Get the tissue box off the table. Instead of lecturing my children about climate change and how they should wash their hands and faces instead of grabbing a tissue, I needed to get the tissue box off the table. Some things are as easy as that: Everyone has a cloth hand towel by their plate now. Some things need a transition period: Indian soap nuts are back – but I still keep some ordinary detergent for nasty stains – after all there are three messy children in this household. But most important, I have my “waste-detecting” glasses back on. There is so much single-use packaging around that I got accustomed to: from sugar at the café to… no wait, when did they actually stop serving coffee in real cups? I am looking for ecofriendly alternatives, monitor what comes into the house and try to avoid purchases altogether. Baby steps, I know. In the end, it is not what you tell your children that will have an impact, but the example you give. I think I need to spend some time with my mother to get back on track. Zero Waste and how to start Zero Waste is talked about everywhere now. There are bloggers telling their stories, Pinterest boards collecting ideas and Instagram threads picturing what you need to achieve zero waste. But the thing is: you need very little for a waste-free lifestyle. It is about reducing your imprint, not styling your intentions. So ignore the “10 things you need to go zero waste” lists (with affiliate shopping links) unless you say you are ready to abstain from Nespresso capsules (bravo!). Then still ignore the shopping lists and search for “stainless steel reusable coffee capsules” or “French press” right away. Start with small steps – especially when your guilt level is high. It’s like with New Year’s Resolutions: the more drastic a change you seek the more likely you are going to give in. Don’t shame yourself for all the plastic straws or cotton pads you’ve used during your life. Shame will only make you want to avoid the subject. Pick something that is easy for you to change and pat yourself on the back once you’ve succeeded. Then choose another goal. Don’t tell others what to do, start with your own waste first. Seeing you succeed will make it easier for your children and spouse to go along. Pick a challenge , if that’s your thing, one week, one month without coffee to go (unless you bring a re-usable cup), single serving packaging, bottled water (again unless you use a re-usable bottle), disposable cutlery at the take-away (bring your own), paper towels… shopping! A few ideas to reduce waste right now: Reusable bags While single use plastic bags are banned in the EU, there are still a lot of (paper) bags that get used only once. Better keep one or more small re-usable bags in your purse. Preferably made from canvas or recycled plastic. And reuse all paper and plastic bags you still own. But that’s obvious, isn’t it? Reusable Water Bottles Plastic bottles take an estimated 450 years until they are gone to decompose. Add production energy and transport and gasp! I know I said no shame, but I needed those 450 years to remind myself to carry my water bottle until it became a habit. You are having takeout lunches and the beverage is part of the formule? If you bring your own water and refuse theirs you are not likely to pay more than the formule. Plus you can tell yourself that you donated 1.50 Euros to the environment! Reusable Coffee Mugs Of course, we can embrace slow food, ditch all on-the-go habits and feel like an angel. But angelic state is not achieved overnight. Think of it as a work in process and allow yourself the to-go in a reusable bamboo cup. Or glass. Or stainless steel unless there is a plastic lining/lid. Cloth Paper Towels and Tissues This replacement is not only environment friendly, but saves a lot of money! Any fabric will do, so you can easily re-cycle sheets and shirts you already have. Just cut them into squares and keep them in a drawer. Or, if more convenient for you, in a wooden tissue box. Buy in bulk When I say bulk, I don’t mean buy lots and so much that you end up with more than you need. But whenever appropriate, avoid small serving packages. Big quantities don’t go stale when you transfer them to glass or metal containers. If your child just needs one cookie for gôuter, you can carry it in a reusable snack pouch (tutorials and ready-mades online) or another durable alternative to ziplock bags and plastic containers. Go loose Even better than bulk! Seek out the épicerie en vrac (loose goods) at your grocery or organic food store. For zero waste experts: use cloth produce bags with drawstrings. For beginners: re-use the paper bags they offer. Leave teabags and coffee capsules aside and buy loose. It has the advantage of leaving less plastic residue in your beverages. Even teabags are often made of plastic fiber – especially the pricey ones. Plus all those little paper tags and staples. Coffee grounds and tea leaves can also be left to compost – win, win, win! No foil, no wrap If you want to be crafty, search “bees wax and tissue” cling film alternatives to cling film. If you are lazy, just cover bowls with plates and plates with bowls. Fill those left-overs in glass containers or jam jars. The latter make a perfect serving size for take-out lunches. Beauty products Remember those 450 years? For shampoo bottles and toothpaste tubes it’s estimated evenmore than that. And if the product contains glitter or an exfoliating agent, this microplastic will be drained right into the ocean. I know, no guilt for past habits. But now go and find good solid alternatives. Zero waste toothpaste with baking soda and essential oils on my list for when the last store-bought tube is empty. Because throwing away what you already own to replace with something better is also not zero waste. About the Author: Ilka lives with her husband and three sons Ayoub, Zyan, and Sami in Orsay. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

I have a little confession to make. Can I just say I’m tired of birthday parties? Right now, I am at a demographically interesting phase in my life where someone I love has a milestone birthday seemingly all the time. My friends are all turning 40 or 50, my daughter just turned twelve. My husband is hitting 50 this spring, and my mother will be 75 this summer. I started out writing this about how my daughter is always in planning mode for her next birthday, and I realized it’s me. I’m the one who’s perpetually planning parties. I’m in a cycle of anticipation/exhaustion. But this is not about me, it’s about the kids, right? My daughter was three and a half when we moved to France. We celebrated her 4th birthday a few months after we arrived in Paris. She had made a few friends in maternelle, and we planned a small féte at a kid’s art studio in our neighborhood. Five little girls, an art project, a gateaux chocolat, and some juice. It was my favorite party of all- because we didn’t really have to do anything. The parents were expected to drop off their kids and come back in 2 hours. Even the parents hosting the event were not permitted to stay. My husband and I, so pleasantly surprised by this rule, almost didn’t know what to do with ourselves. Is this how French parties work? We were used to American birthday parties, which generally involved way more kids (sometimes the entire class is invited), and way more parental involvement, and way more effort to outdo the last party. Before moving to Paris, we’d endured Chuck E. Cheese parties more times than I care to count, several bouncy-climby-jumpy (sign a waiver) kinds of places, children’s museums, and water park splash parties. The parents in our social circle had a ‘go big or go home’ mentality when it comes to celebrating their offspring (or celebrating anything, really). Hosting a house full of kids and their parents for an entire afternoon was the norm. I loved those events, but I didn’t realize how ready I was to opt out of ‘go big or go home’ until I made my home here. The simple, small atelier party was not only my intro to French kid parties, but also how we started my daughter’s social life in Paris. I learned from it that, like French apartments, kid parties here are smaller, and the parents can be more laid back about them. It is totally okay to have a guest list in the single digits. My kiddo likes making paper invitations, so I let her handle it. But most of the parties we’ve been invited to have been via text or group chat. I have been chasing that “bring cake and come back in 2 hours” level of low maintenance for birthdays ever since. After 8 years of being an American mom planning parties for French kids, this is what I’ve learned on the art of the low-maintenance birthday party. Party in the Park If you are lucky enough to have had your child in the warmer months of the year, and to live near a park, this is a no-brainer. Stake out a spot in your favorite part of the park, and set up a picnic. This can be as simple or elaborate as you want: the kids can wear déguisements, you can have games and prizes, but this is truly the party that does itself. Once you’ve provided some food and drink, your sugar-fueled guests will run off and entertain themselves. From my observation, Parisian kids are just happy to be outside, and dare I say...frolick? They’ll do classic stuff like play hide and seek, or tag, or climb trees. Then they’ll come back, looking for refreshments, you sing happy birthday and let them eat cake. From ages four to ten, if the weather’s nice, it’s really hard not to have a great time in the park. The French are naturally good at picnicking, and it feels relaxing in a way that I can’t quite describe. Parisian parks have a sense of formality to them that makes it seem elegant to just be chilling on the grass. The Almighty Atelier I am a big fan of paying people to teach my kid fun stuff. And Paris seems to have a lot of neighborhood businesses that do just that. Many places that offer classes for kids will also host birthday parties. The instructor or animator will lead a group in making a craft project, followed by cake and celebration. Ateliers are also low-effort affairs. The venue provides the structure, you bring the kids. The aforementioned art studio was such a hit with my daughter, we had her birthday there twice. We’ve also partied at pottery studios, patisseries and neighborhood cinemas that offer atelier birthdays. As they get older, there’s laser tag, rock-climbing gyms, and escape rooms. Escape rooms are really popular for the middle school set right now. For 90 to 120 minutes, your group is led through an immersive mystery or treasure hunt. They solve the mystery, and leave with gift bags. I’ve found the Bastille area has a lot of escape rooms, but they’re so trendy right now, a Google search will probably yield one near you. Bienvenue Chez Nous My daughter is a February baby. More specifically, she’s a vacation baby. Her birthday falls right when school’s out and everyone’s leaving town. So, even if we wanted to throw a big party, half the invitees wouldn’t come. And that's okay. If you have enough space to entertain, celebrating at home can be fun. It’s just more work. You need to structure the time, or you'll have a bunch of kids tearing up your house. We’ve since tried to recreate the atelier party at home, with a theme, a craft project, and no more than six kids. My daughter did a lot of the planning with the home parties. She’s always got an idea for a theme brewing in her head. One year, she was into the ubiquitous Space Invader mosaics around Paris, so we made plastic versions of them with hama beads and paper versions with square stickers and graph paper. The next year, she was into baking shows, so each kid got their own apron, and my husband led them through making a birthday cake, and they played games while it baked. During the pandemic, we had a corny joke themed Zoom meetup as her party, and it was actually a huge hit. Blow up some balloons (no kid can resist batting balloons around), make a fun music playlist, and have plenty of candy. My dear daughter just turned twelve, and she has grown into a planner, with wish lists and distinct ideas about her birthday parties. Twelve feels like a milestone, a turning point where the subsequent birthdays should become less of a production. So what did we do? Throw one last big production. It was a hybrid going out/ staying home party, where we took six girls to lunch at a burger joint, walked to a nearby escape room, and then headed back to our home, where my daughter had games planned (Kems and Loup-Garou) AND they made an impromptu movie. When the parents came to collect their offspring, we had an apéro of cider and snacks. As we sat around the table and chatted about collége, I realized things had come full circle: my daughter’s expectations were aligned with my desired level of effort. A well done birthday party should not only be fun for the kids, but provide a break for the parents. Oh, and always have balloons. Do you have a favorite birthday party that you have planned, or your kids have attended? Tell us about it in the comments! About the Author: Rachelle Chapman is the mom of Camille (12). Originally a Chicago native, she has been living in Paris since 2014. All photos in this article taken by Rachelle Chapman. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

I remember my childhood in the USA, getting home for snack time after school. I remember a lot of granola bars, yogurts, fruit, and cereal. Snacks weren't necessarily balanced, but a chocolate and sugar-laden treat was not in the list of options. It felt shocking to move to Paris and see kids walking around with chocolate sandwiches after school! The Classic Goûter Here in France, kids from maternelle and up will often have goûter (afternoon snack) with a parent or caregiver when they are picked up. Traditional after-school snacks often include baguette-chocolate sandwiches (yes, chocolate tablets tucked into baguette sliced length-wise!), pastries from a local boulangerie, packaged cookies from the supermarket, and compote (applesauce) pouches. Some kids also have gouter at school, which often looks like a fruit, a baked good (cookies or small cakes) and sometimes milk or drinkable yogurt. While there are certainly variations on the theme as well as exceptions, most of the time French goûter is a sugar-laden affair. Not to mention that some kids double down on sugar, having cookies and cakes at school followed by another sugary bakery item at pickup time as well. The idea of a "healthy snack" is not part of the French vocabulary most of the time! The Benefits of Boulangerie Snacks There is a positive to note about this French tradition, which is the fact that they get devalued because of the frequency. When we save sweet foods and baked goods only for special occasions and label them as "treats," kids learn that these foods are special in some way and therefore hold a higher value compared to other foods. These foods become the desired prize, and when these foods are available it can be difficult to manage kids' expectations and to keep portions reasonable. Alternatively, with the French method of regularly offering sweet foods, kids understand that these items can be a part of a regular healthy diet and that they can rely on having these foods somethings which reduces the perceived value. Basically, they learn that sometimes we eat broccoli and sometimes we eat chocolate. They serve different purposes and both can be delicious. That said, the French way isn't the only way! As a dietitian I know the importance of balance, and I believe the classic goûter is lacking in that department. An ideal snack should include some produce and some protein, healthy fats are a bonus. Sweet foods and baked goods can absolutely be part of this too. Let's take a classic goûter as an example of how it could be more balanced: let's say there is a cake on the menu or you bring a bakery treat for pickup time. Simple add some produce (an apple, a compote pouch, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, some clementines...) and a protein source (cheese, almonds, sunflower seeds, salami, crispy chickpeas, peanuts...) et voila! Balance achieved! Fresh Ideas Looking for a different strategy? Here are some fun and balanced ideas and recipes for on-the-go snacks: Hummus and cherry tomato rollup (Spread a whole grain tortilla with hummus, layer on halved or quartered cherry tomatoes, and roll.) PBJ rollup + fruit (Spread peanut butter or almond butter and jam on a slice of whole wheat bread or tortilla and roll. Serve with fruit.) Ham and cheese rollup + fruit (On a whole grain tortilla or bread, spread hummus or mayo if desired, layer a slice of ham/jambon blanc and a slice of cheese, and roll.) Homemade chocolate chip granola bars Homemade fresh fruit trail (Mix blueberries or grapes, nuts and seeds of choice, and chocolate chips in a small container.) Kid-friendly energy bites (A family favorite- pecans and coconut mixed in.) Mini sandwich crackers (Spread almond butter or hummus between two whole grain crackers to make a small "sandwich" and serve with fruit.) Chocolate peanut butter banana bites (Thinly slice banana, spread peanut butter or other nut/seed butter on a slice, layer another banana slice on top to make a "sandwich." Freeze 15 minutes, then coat in melted chocolate. Keep in the fridge until school pickup.) Veggie Frittata Kid apero plate: strips of comté, almonds, mini saucisson, radishes Smoothies packed in water bottles or reusable cups with wide straws (try this delicious sweet potato smoothie!) Crispy chickpeas + cucumber slices Sweet and salty popcorn + fruit Squash and cheese quesadilla Zucchini tater tots Homemade yogurt squeeze packs Peanut butter chickpea cookies Naturally-sweetened strawberry oat cookies Share in the comments... what are your favorite goûter selections? What are some recipes that your kids love? About the author: Stephanie Rink, MS, RD, LDN is a US-trained Registered Dietitian with nearly 10 years of experience helping expat families feel confident about food choices for themselves and their growing families. She offers nutrition coaching services for families looking to expand, pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children through a family-inclusive and intuitive eating lens. You can find more information at www.littlesproutnutrition.com. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

If you are going to give birth in a medical facility in France, choosing one can be overwhelming at first, and depend on your health insurance or even your obstetrician. Once you decide, you should get to know your facility so you know what to expect and what to bring. Public vs. private hospitals for example, can vary a lot in what is provided. Additionally, if this is not your first birth but first in France, you still need to know what to expect, as the facility might be different than your previous country's. For instance, in France, it is common to keep birth mothers a few days after birth for recovery. Here are some questions to get you familiar with maternity facilities: Payment and cost • Is the facility fully or partially reimbursed by social security? • How much will a routine delivery and stay cost? • What are the charges for extras, private room, and television? • Do they expect any payments in advance? • What type of medical insurance does the facility accept? (If you have private insurance in another country, be sure to discuss the coverage in detail with your insurer and find out exactly what documentation they will require from the hospital, doctor and other medical professionals before they will pay. Then discuss your insurance requirements with the hospital to make sure that the necessary documents will be supplied.) Services and Facilities Available • What category is the facility? • Do they have English-speaking doctors, midwives, nursery nurses (puéricultrices) or pediatricians? • Is there a premature baby or neonatal unit on-site; if not, where would the baby be cared for and can you be transferred too (if necessary)? • Do they have equipment to help you pump breastmilk for a premature baby? • What are the hospital security measures for authorized people? • How long can you expect to stay in the hospital after the birth? • Do they offer instruction on how to care for the baby (changing diapers, bathing and umbilical cord care)? • Does the hospital provide diapers, sanitary towels, breast pads, etc? • How does one set up physiotherapy after birth? • Can partners stay overnight in your room and have meals provided? • Do they offer any prenatal classes (in evenings?) and do these include a tour of the facilities? • Who are the visiting hours for: partners; siblings (can siblings under 14 years old visit at all?); family members or friends? • Are the washing and toilet facilities private or shared? • Are there bedside telephones, televisions, or wifi? • Are you allowed to have flowers in your room? As the idea of a “birth plan” does not strictly exist in France, you may wish to probe the facility in depth about its policies and medical procedures. Hospital/Clinical Policies • Are women permitted to give birth in the labour room (salle de travail) or must all births take place in the delivery room (salle d’accouchement)? Or do labour and delivery take place in the same room? • Is giving birth without medication encouraged? • Are women allowed to be out of bed during labour? • Can you choose your own position for birth? • Do midwives deliver the baby? • Are partners permitted to be with the woman throughout labour and delivery? If they are away, can a friend be present? • In the case of a cesarean, planned or emergency, can the partner be present during the procedure? • What routines and tests are there for the baby directly after the birth? • Is your own private pediatrician permitted to examine the baby? • Can the baby stay in your room day and night? • If you are tired, can the baby stay in the nursery? • If breastfeeding, are there staff trained to help you get started? How soon after the birth can you start, can you feed on demand, can you insist the baby is fed only breastmilk day and night? • Where can one rent a hospital-grade breast pump? Medical Routines • What methods of pain relief are available during labour? • What laboring equipment is offered? Are birthing pools available? • Do they routinely give women an intravenous solution? • Do they use electronic fetal monitoring? If so, is it used for the entire labour or only periodically? • How frequently are episiotomies done? • What is the percentage of cesarean births in the hospital/clinic? Did we miss anything? Tell us below, or let us know what questions you are glad you asked before delivering a baby in France! This article was originally published in 'The ABC's of Parenting in Paris' -curated by our members, and filled with insiders' tips and practical information. As part of our drive towards greater sustainable practices, the book is no longer available in print form. This article was updated for 2023 by Annie Kamp. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

Need some ideas for outings with your kids during the many school holidays (vacances) in France? Try animal-related activities! Despite living in a densely populated area, there are many ways to see all kinds of animals in and near Paris that cater to kids. Here are some ideas for animal-related days out with children, arranged into categories of: zoos, aquariums, butterflies, farms and petting zoos and more. Be sure to check the websites for seasonal events, many offer activities for children during school vacances, and family or annual ticket prices. Most zoos and aquariums are free for children under three. It is also worth remembering that many parks in Paris and the suburbs have duck ponds and petting zoos. Zoos and Safari Parks Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes Jardin des Plantes 57, rue Cuvier 75005 Paris METRO Austerlitz, Jussieu BUS 36, 38, 40 rue Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire 2, 8, 10, 18 rue Buffon www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr/en Moved to its current location in 1794 after the French Revolution, this is the oldest zoo in the world still open to visitors. The ménagerie started off as the private collection of queen Marie Antoinette, and hosts dozens of species of rare animals. The zoo, aviary and reptile house have over a thousand animals. It is a great place for little children to run around. Restaurant/snack bar and several picnic tables. Easy stroller access. No dogs allowed. Entrance fee: Adults €10, kids under 3 free Opening Times: Daily, year-round, 10am-5pm Parc Zoologique de Paris Bois de Vincennes 53, avenue de Saint-Maurice 75012 Paris METRO Porte Dorée TRAM T3 Porte Dorée BUS 46, 86, 201, 325 (arrêt : Parc Zoologique), 77 (arrêt Porte de Reuilly) www.parczoologiquedeparis.fr/en Large zoo in the Bois de Vincennes spanning 14 hectacres with 3,000 animals in 5 biozones. Entrance fee: Adults €20, kids 3-12 €17, kids under 3 free Hours change by the season, check the website for hours Château de Thoiry 78770 Thoiry-en-Yvelines 40km west of Paris 01 34 87 53 76 www.thoiry.net Château de Thoiry is a zoo with a drive-through safari park with animals roaming free (hippos, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, lions and zebras), set on the grounds of the local château. For the safari park, you drive straig in, pay, then enter the safari park at reduced speed, which takes about an hour. For best access to the zoo, park as close to the château as possible. Try to arrive at opening time as it gets overcrowded on holiday weekends. There is a brand new gorilla space, and areas to enter with animals including birds, lemurs, and goats. There is a casual café, picnic areas and playground for older children. Entrance: Adults €32, children 3-11 €25, children under 3 free (check out the annual ticket prices which are a good deal compared to single tickets) Parcs Zoologiques Lumigny 77540 Nesles 52km southeast of Paris https://www.parcs-zoologiques-lumigny.fr/ A zoo with two concentrations: wild cats in the Parc des Félins and primates in the Terre de Singes. The Parc des Félins is a zoological park dedicated to the breeding and conservation of wild members of the cat family. Of the 326 recognized species of felines in the world, the park has 26 species, with a total of 160 cats. The Terre de Signes covers 21 hectacres, and has 300 animals and not just monkeys- there are also parrot and parakeet enclosures. Additionally, visitors can enter a squirrel monkey enclosure. Entrance fees: Tickets are offered for both parks, or individually, and annual passes. Check website for details on tickets Ticket prices for both parks: Adults and children over 11 €28, children 3- 10 €16, kids under 3 are free L’Espace Rambouillet Office National des Forêts 3, rue Groussay 78520 Rambouillet 50km southwest of Paris https://www.espacerambouillet.fr/ The Forêt de Rambouillet was once one of the favourite royal hunting spots due to its abundant stocks of wild boar, deer, stags and rabbits. Now a wildlife reserve that offers a protected habitat to many species of animals, including birds of prey such as falcons and eagles, it stretches over 250 hectares and is divided into three “forests”. The “Eagle Forest” has over 120 birds of prey in aviaries. There are birds of prey shows daily, check website for times. The “Deer Forest” has a discovery path with observation points. Hours: CLOSED in Winter, reopening in April 2023 check website for hours Coffee shop and restaurant on site (summer time only) Entrance fees: see website Aquariums Aquarium de Paris 5, avenue Albert de Mun 75116 Paris METRO Trocadéro RER C Champs de Mars BUS: 22 (Trocadéro), 30, 32, 63 (Albert de Mun), 72 (Pont d'Iena), 82 Varsovie www.aquariumdeparis.com This innovative aquarium combines marine life with multimedia installations. The aquarium holds over 13,000 creatures in total including the largest jellyfish aquarium in Europe with 2,500 jellyfish. The largest tank is nearly 10 metres deep and contains 3 million litres of water (3,000 tonnes) and 100 tonnes of salt. Kids can touch carp and sturgeon in the touching pools, and you can also get to see the sharks being fed by divers. Hours: Open daily 10am-6pm You MUST buy tickets in advance Entrance: Adults and kids over 13 €25.50, children 3 to 12 €18.50, kids under 3 free Aquarium Tropical at the Palais de la Porte Dorée 293, avenue Daumesnil 75012 Paris METRO Porte Dorée BUS 46, 201 www.aquarium-tropical.fr A large aquarium in the basement of the Palais de la Porte Dorée with over 500 species. Numerous tanks of tropical fish as well as turtles and an alligator pit. With lots of room to run around and an affordable price, this is a great place to take small children on a rainy day. Hours: Closed Mondays, check website for hours Entrance fees: Adults over 26 €8, free for people under 26, annual pass for one person €20, €30 for two people SEA LIFE Val d’Europe Centre Commercial 14, cours du Danube 77711 Marne-La-Vallée RER A Val d’Europe https://www.visitsealife.com/paris SEA LIFE has eight themed areas including a shark tank, and a 360° underwater tunnel. There is also touching tank for children to learn more about fascinating sea creatures. Hours: Open daily 10am - 6:30pm Entrance fees: Check website for tickets and annual pass prices Butterflies (Papillons) Serre aux Papillons Jardinerie Poullain 78940 Queue-les-Yvelines 40km southwest of Paris serreauxpapillons.fr In the atmosphere of an equatorial jungle, over 700 species of butterflies fly around you among orchids and rare plants. There is also a new bioluminescent jungle. Hours: Daily 9am - 6:00pm Entrance fees: Adults €11, children 3 - 14 €4.50, children under 3 free Farms and Petting Zoos There are many farms open to the public where children can spend the day and watch, pet and feed the animals. They tend to be on the outskirts of Paris, and are often located in parks. Some offer ateliers during school vacances so check the websites to see if there are any special programs. La Ferme Georges-Ville Bois de Vincennes 1, rue du Pesage (behind the Hippodrome de Vincennes) 75012 Paris METRO Château de Vincennes BUS 77 RER A Joinville le Pont METRO Joinville le Pont www.paris.fr/lieux/la-ferme-de-paris-6597 Often called the Farm of Paris, the Ferme Georges-Ville is in the Bois de Vincennes, just next to the hippodrome. It is an educational farm for children with cows, pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc., which children can pet. Additionally, there are crop fields, vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Depending on the season, you can watch sheep-shearing, milking, and butter making demonstrations. Hours: Open weekends until 26 February 2023, check website for hours The Bois de Vincennes offers ideal picnic areas, but no other facilities, there are toilettes at the farm but no baby changing table Entrance fees: FREE Ferme Pédagogique du Hameau de la Reine Hameau de la Reine, Petit Trianon Château de Versailles 78000 Versailles 20km southwest of Paris www.chateauversailles.fr/decouvrir/domaine/domaine-trianon/hameau-reine Created in 1783, the Petit Hameau was a mock farm, complete with farmhouse, dairy, mill and chicken yard. When visiting this farm, Marie Antoinette and her attendants would dress as shepherdesses, and play at milking the cows and tending other docile animals. Restored and reopened in 2006, today cows, goats, sheep, swans and ducks roam in an historical setting. To access the Queen’s area, use the Porte Saint-Antoine entrance. There is a fee to drive into the grounds (parking is just outside the Hameau) or you can park on the street (there is a small fee for street parking) and walk. Follow signs to the Petit Trianon once in Versailles. Entrance fees: Adults €10, children under 10 free (Reserve tickets online, well in advance as they book up.) Ferme Pédagogique d’Ecancourt 95280 Jouy-le-Moutier RER A Cergy Le Haut, then BUS 48, stop Ecancourt www.ferme.ecancourt.fr Another small working farm where children can become acquainted with animals—cows, goats, chickens, etc. They also sell fresh eggs, chickens, rabbit, and goats cheese produced on the farm. Entrance: FREE Hours: Check website before you go, the hours vary by day and season La Ferme de Clamart 28, Rue Gabriel Péri 92140, Clamart dans le parc Maison Blanche https://bergeriesenville.org/la-ferme-de-clamart Offering "open days", weekly ateliers and birthday parties for children with animals including goats, sheep, rabbits and chickens to greet them. See website for the atelier schedule. Hours: check website, the hours vary by season Entrance fees: Adults/children €2, kids under 3 free Les Fermes de Gally, St Cyr Location Route de Bailly à Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole (CD7) 78210 Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole 25km southwest of Paris, it is possible to walk 10 min to the farm from the new T13 Allee Royale stop https://www.lesfermesdegally.com/ A historic, family-owned farm with a cueillette to pick your own fruits and vegetables (with a playground with swings and tractor), and up the road is the animal farm, farm shop and restaurant. The farm hosts great ateliers for children such as butter making, honey harvesting, bread making, etc. It also hosts birthday parties. Picnic tables near the parking lot, restaurant on site (make reservations especially on the weekend). It also has a fabulous garden and home store with a small grocery section which sells the farm products, and a wine cave. Special activities on Wednesdays and weekends, and special events linked to the major holidays like an autumn labyrinth and pumpkin carving. Hours: Check website for atelier hours and to reserve a ticket, hours for the farm vary by day and are different during school vacances Entrance to the farm fees: Adults and kids over 12 €5.30, children 3-11 €4.90, kids under 3 free Entrance to the farm and atelier per kid fee: €10.60 Entrance to the cueillette is free, parking is free too Les Fermes de Gally, Sartrouville Location Ferme de Sartrouville 33, rue de Chatou 78500 Sartrouville Bus: From Gare de Sartrouville 501 & 503 stop "Clémenceau" or 5, 501, 502, 503; stop "Boulevard de Bezons" Tour the educational farm with your children and see small animals like dwarf goats and rabbits, as well as horses and donkeys. Entrance fees: Adults and kids over 12 €5.30, children 3-11 €4.90, kids under 3 free Hours: Check website, the hours vary by day, and they are have special hours during school vacances Les Fermes de Gally, Saint Denis Location 114, avenue de Stalingrad 93000 Saint-Denis METRO: Ligne 13 - Saint-Denis Université Bus: 253 Henri-Barbusse stop or 255 Clos Hanot stop Visit the urban farm in Saint Denis which includes animals and bread-making ateliers for both kids and adults. Reserve your ticket online for entry or ateliers, or buy in person. Entrance fees: Adults and kids over 12 €5.10, children 3-11 €3.20, kids under 3 free Ateliers are a €4.40 supplement Hours: Check website for hours, they vary by day and season La Bergerie Nationale Parc du Château 78514 Rambouillet 54km southwest of Paris www.bergerie-nationale.educagri.fr Louis XVI set up this grande ferme in 1785 for experimenting with different species, including Spanish merino sheep, Swiss cows, African sheep, Angora goats, Belgian and Arabian horses, etc. Explore the farm on your own, or join the daily guided tour at 2:30pm. Take a horse drawn carriage tour (balades en calèche) of the farm. They allow daily viewing of milking cows at 4:30pm and feeding the animals at 5:00pm. There is also a farm boutique selling its own products and cafe. Entrance fees: Adults and kids over 12 €7, children 3-12 €5, kids under 3 free, carriage-ride is €8, annual passes available Hours: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, 2pm-6pm Other Animal Activities Equestrian Shows at the Château de Versailles Place d'Armes 78000 Versailles Website View an elaborately choreographed equestrian ballet, performed by the National Equestrian Academy, in the historic stables of the Château de Versailles-which is also to be the location of the equestrian events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Children under 5 not allowed. Duration : 1h followed by a free tour of the stables Price : from €16 to €28, book online in advance Hours: Every weekend, Saturday at 6pm and Sunday at 3pm. Exceptional performances on Wednesdays during the short school holidays, at 3pm. Ecole de Chiens Guides de Paris 105, avenue de Saint-Maurice 75012 Paris Located just in front of le Rocher du Zoo de Vincennes https://www.chiensguidesparis.fr/ Inaugurated in 1987 by the Mairie de Paris, the guide dog training centre in the Bois de Vincennes has open houses (portes ouvertes) once a year (typically in September) where they demonstrate what the dogs can do and how they are trained. Do you have any favorite animal outings to recommend? Let us know in the comments! This article was originally published in 'The ABC's of Parenting in Paris' -curated by our members, and filled with insiders' tips and practical information. As part of our drive towards greater sustainable practices, the book is no longer available in print form. This article was updated for 2023 by Annie Kamp. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

By Anne de Rochefort-Carnot What is Parcoursup? Parcoursup is the national online applications portal for applying to higher education programs in France. This platform allows most students (but not all) to access the first year of higher education (post-Bac) by pre-enrolling, submitting their course preferences, and responding to the admission offers from institutions providing higher education courses. Students can make up to 10 'voeux', meaning they can choose up to 10 different programs (licences, BTS, “prépas” etc), both selective and non-selective. For each choice ('voeu'), they need to write a short cover letter explaining why they want to apply to that specific program, and what their project is. They can also add their personal interests, any language certificate they may have, etc. The school then inputs students’ grades into the system and writes their own recommendation explaining why they think their students would be a good fit for the program. In most schools it’s possible to meet with the teachers to discuss your child’s options; it’s often useful to listen to their advice. Each program describes its main features, the level expected to get in, the number of applications received the year before, and its admission rate. This gives you an idea of how easy or difficult it is to get into the program. You can search programs all year round, by discipline or geographical area, so it’s a good idea to have a look before the platform officially “opens” in January. Another piece of advice I would give is: whenever possible, go to open houses with your child - you’ll be able to talk to teachers and current students. This will help your child decide whether the program is right for them and if they have the grades for it. How does it work? Between January and March, students enter their choices into the online platform, before it closes for a while. Depending on the type of program, the selection is made by a person or an algorithm. The algorithm usually takes into account students’ grades and ranking, especially in their 3 majors. That’s the tricky bit because, with the latest reform, a good part of your child’s application is made of the grades they get in school, which may vary a great deal depending on their lycée (high school). This is why looking at the previous year’s admissions numbers is important to help you decide whether your child has the right level for the program. You will get your first answers at the beginning of June. Unless your kid is very strong academically, they will most likely mainly receive responses that they are “on the waiting list”. Parents are often afraid of "Parcoursup", but the process doesn’t have to be intimidating. Don’t panic, this is quite normal! For each “voeu”, you will see your child's ranking on the waiting list, in comparison to how many spots were awarded for that program in the previous year. This should put your mind at ease: for example, if your child is ranked 500th on the waiting list but the ranking of the final student to receive an offer in the previous year was 850th, you will probably get a positive answer in a few days/weeks. Students usually have around 3 days to answer admission offers (if they get more than one positive answer, they need to choose which one to keep, which will free up spaces in the waiting lists). Two of my kids went through the process. One got a “yes” on the first day, while the second was on waiting lists everywhere, and with rankings that weren’t great. However, he eventually received an admission offer for this first-choice program after 4 weeks. If you’re realistic about your child’s level, he/she will probably get into a program that fits his/her interests, and that’s good news! Want to know more? www.parcoursup.fr www.etudiant.gouv.fr/en/what-you-need-know-about-parcoursup-1336 A good free podcast (in French) about the topic: www.azimut-podcast.com About the Author: Anne is a French native, Anglophile translator, and mom of 3 happy bilingual children. After some years abroad, her family came back to Paris just in time to discover what life after “lycée” is! She is happy to discuss the topic of Parcoursup with any Message member. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message. Message cannot be held responsible for any information contained in or omitted from this article.

Happy New Year! We have made it to 2023… and let me guess, we are all once again saying “This will be MY year! I am FINALLY going to…” (insert resolution here). We have all done it - set new year resolutions to help us achieve the life we want by the end of the next year. Think: ”I want to lose weight.” ”I want to travel more.” ”I will drink more water.” ”I will exercise everyday.” ”I am going to run a marathon!” ”I will get a raise!” ”I am finally going to start that project I’ve been meaning to do…” And on it goes. Don’t get me wrong, resolutions are great! It is amazing to set goals to identify ways you want to change. However, most of the time these resolutions amount to, well, not much. We most often come to the New Year’s celebration the following year with our resolutions still floating around, unfulfilled. Let’s break the cycle! Here are some strategies you can use to actually make your resolutions stick. 1. Visualize. Close your eyes. Think about your resolution or goal. Imagine you have achieved your goal. What does it feel like? What does your life look like? What has changed around you to support your goal or as a result of this goal? Got it? Great! Grab a pen, and write down everything you visualized. Bottle up the feeling you imagined when thinking about having achieved your goal- this is motivation GOLD. When you are losing the drive to make your resolution happen, close your eyes and reimagine this feeling, using it to help you be motivated to keep making forward motion. 2. Find meaning. Think about your resolution. What is the “why” behind it? Do you want to exercise every day to feel strong? Do you want to lose weight to have more energy for your kids? Do you want to eat out less to save money for a trip you want to take? Determining the “why” behind a resolution can help you develop intention around the goal. This can help you to break down the steps you need to take to get to where you want to be. 3. Be SMART. Once you have your goal and know the meaning behind it, it is time to get to the nitty-gritty. Refine your goal using the acronym SMART: Specific - your goal should be clear and specific so that you know exactly what you want to achieve. For example, instead of “be more organized” you could set a goal to have a more organized closet. Measurable - you should be able to track your progress. Instead of a goal to lose weight, you might set a goal to lose 5kg over the course of 10 weeks by making a healthy dinner 5 nights per week and exercising 3 times per week. Achievable - goals must be realistic in order to maintain motivation to achieve them. If you enjoy wine but want to cut back, it wouldn’t be realistic to say “I’ll stop drinking wine.” Perhaps a more achievable goal would be to limit yourself to wine on weekends or to 1 glass of wine per evening. Relevant - this is all about having a goal that has meaning (see #2 above!). If the goal isn’t relevant to your life or the direction you want to go, it simply won’t happen. Timely - goals must be time-based to be truly actionable. Instead of a goal to go back to school or do a new training, a better objective would be to sign up for a course within the next month. 4. Find support. Even the most motivated person with the best set of resolutions hits bumps in the road. The best way to handle these obstacles is by building a support system. An accountability buddy or group is an excellent option for support - when you are having a tough time, having someone to lift you up can make the difference so you can move past the obstacle. Message is a great place to find support, post in the forum your resolution and create an accountability group. 5. Take one step. When you imagined your life after achieving the goal, what did it look like? What can you implement NOW to start building a support structure to get you one step closer? Often our goals are long or require a lot of time to achieve, which ends up being a barrier to getting started. Instead of letting this happen to you, think of just one small step that you can take TODAY to get closer to achieving your resolution. This might be one phone call, spending 10 minutes making a start, or even simply telling someone about your goal so you stay accountable. Even if the small step seems insignificant, any forward momentum is meaningful! Have you set resolutions or intentions for this year? How can you use the tips above to make progress and achieve your goals this year? About the author: Stephanie Rink, MS, RD, LDN is a US-trained Registered Dietitian with nearly 10 years of experience helping expat families feel confident about food choices for themselves and their growing families. She offers nutrition coaching services for families looking to expand, pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children through a family-inclusive and intuitive eating lens. littlesproutnutrition.com The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Message.

Have you ever felt like there’s something terribly lonely about parenting even though you’re almost never alone? Like you want to connect to this small person, but really have no interest in the games they like to play? This was my mental state when a parent friend offered to take both of our kids to the new indoor bouldering space in our neighborhood. So, I replied, “Sure, but I want to come too!” And thus began an almost weekly tradition for the four of us, doing something we all really enjoy together. There are two main spaces for adults and one area for kids. The walls are covered with plastic formations made to imitate what it would be like to climb boulders. No need for cords or harnesses, because the floors are covered with soft, squishy mats to soften the landing if you lose your balance and jump from up high. You can choose between different paths to follow using color code indicating how easy or hard the path is. Some of the paths -called boulder problems - go horizontally, others vertically. The goal is to be able to place both hands on the last handhold. Trained staff regularly change the paths to continually provide new challenges. What I have learned: You don’t have to have big muscles to enjoy climbing. Climbing kind of felt like going to therapy. The only thing holding me back is myself (or the easier colors anyway. Once you get to more complicated problems, you do need some hand and muscle strength). Most of the challenge is learning to trust yourself. Climbing is both very social – people are warm, friendly and help one another – and very solitary. It’s just you and the wall and no one can complete the problem for you. On that note, climbing culture is very non-judgmental and non-competitive. There’s space at the top for everyone. Size doesn’t matter. Your body shape and height make some problems harder than others and its different for everyone. It’s all about getting to know your own strengths and how to creatively overcome your weaknesses. Each new step you accomplish gives you an adrenaline rush and completing a problem makes you feel like a rockstar. You’re constantly achieving tiny goals and, even on off days, meeting one tiny goal can give you a boost. Climbing is amazing for core strength and balance (and incidentally, it almost immediately took care of my chronic lower back pain). My daughter and I often face the same challenges with climbing – lack of self-confidence, getting scared, and wanting to give up too quickly. When I’m helping her, I’m simultaneously giving myself a pep talk and having to own up to my own insecurities. Having my daughter applaud me for completing a hard problem feels like a major parenting win in terms of positive female modeling. Why climbing is not for the weak-stomached Indoor climbing gyms smell like sweat. Sweat that has permanently soaked into the squishy floor and fresh sweat from all the bodies. All the surfaces are rough (like rocks) to facilitate gripping with hands and feet. It’s easy to scrape yourself. You regularly see dried blood spots on the walls and my knees and elbows sometimes look like war zones. Ladies, be prepared to keep your nails fairly short and get used to having calloused hands. Actually, those last two points make me feel like a badass. In sum, let’s all stop making play with our children a mind-numbing moment of self-sacrifice and keep our minds open to look for things we can enjoy together. Andrea Field is a long-time Message member and writer. It is her cute daughter in the image above. Her favorite place to climb is Arkose Pont de Sèvres.