Testimonial: “In the United States, giving birth is very expensive”

– ” What is that ?! “, I asked my mother, when I opened one of the birth gifts sent by my family from the United States. “Try it,” she replied. I had in my hands a sort of colored fabric cape, which reminded me of a small curtain on a rod. “It’s a breastfeeding blanket that protects you from the eyes of others. I tried it on, and yes, I could easily see my son suckling through the opening. But on the other hand, we were sweating like in a sauna!

In my country, a good mother is supposed to breastfeed (at least a year), but she prefers to hide. Difficult to do in public because of the perception that people have of a woman who is exposed by breastfeeding! In a mall they would feel embarrassed

and some would ask you to go in your car. I was then happy to live in Paris, where I went everywhere. When my family came to see Tommy, my sister said, “You are brave to do this in front of daddy. “

What I find crazy in the United States is that it costs a lot to be a mom. My sister Brittney had to take out a loan from the hospital to give birth. She spent $ 14 on her pregnancies. To this, we must add 000 dollars per year and per child for diapers, toys, accessories. She would love to have a fifth child, but it’s too expensive. In addition, public nurseries do not exist and the nursery garden – “kindergarten” – begins at 10 years old.

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Beets, spinach, strawberries … this is an example of a baby compote, sold everywhere in American supermarkets. Sugar is said to pass more easily, so at 6 months, we start solid food with fruit. The first vegetable purees are often made from pumpkin, sweet potato and corn. At 8 months old, they are already given “finger food”: pieces of cheese (like cheddar or gouda) or other food cut into small cubes, which they can eat on their own. Very quickly, even before a year, the children eat hot dogs (that was my favorite meal!). A sandwich with melted cheese – grilled cheese sandwich – is also very popular and loved by children. We follow their desires. In France, I was shocked to discover the institution of the “snack”. I had a hard time explaining to my family that our “snack” is done here once a day at a very specific time.

American children sleep earlier than the French. My son would go to bed at 18:30 p.m. until he was one and a half years old. Now that he’s 2 years old, it’s between 19:30 p.m. and 20 p.m., never after. He wakes up early, but I never come back to his room before 6 a.m. In the United States, there are three methods of putting children to sleep. “Cry-out” (we let the child cry for a few nights), “graduated” (we let him cry, but only a few minutes at a time) and “no-cry” (it often means co-sleep). I have made a mixture of the three, but I think the first method is the most effective. For diapers, we are more relaxed than in France. Children can take their time, there is no obligation for them to be clean before 3 years old. The training is done from the moment it is possible to communicate well with them. For the pacifier, we can tell them at the beginning that it is reserved for the night or the nap and afterwards gently remove it. I was very surprised when Tommy’s nanny asked me what his favorite animal was. He was 5 months old and I had no idea… With us, cuddly toys are much less important. In France, it is an institution! But now I know he’s a lion and a wolf, and it’s true that he sleeps better with them.

For us, childhood should be a time of fun. I want to teach Tommy how to be a good, respectful and polite person, but at the same time, I want him to be creative, happy and even “silly”. It is a word which is difficult to translate. Literally it means “beast”, but with a positive character. We easily accept the “crazy dog” side of the little ones. In Paris, I even heard parents telling their children not to shout in the park. But if they can’t let off steam there, where will they do it?