MESSAGE Mother Support Group in Paris

You get your degree, a great job, you find a partner … and have children…. and if you're living in Paris but would like your children to grow up learning English, then this might be for you …

MESSAGE Mother Support Group is a support and contact group for English-speaking parents and parents-to-be living in Paris and the surrounding suburbs. It is a wholly voluntary, non-profit organisation with over 1000 members and offers a means of contact, activities and information to expectant parents and families.

Although the organisation was originally founded as a support service for mothers (hence the name), fathers are now also eligible to become members in their own right. All nationalities are welcome although members must be fluent English speakers.

MESSAGE has 18 areas in and around Paris.

Each area has its own team of organisers - who are all parents - and a local schedule of activities and events, including baby, toddler and children's activities, plus meetings, speaker events and outings for parents, too.

NEWSLETTER

There is a quarterly newsletter for members with details of forthcoming MESSAGE meetings and activities, news on local events, plus articles on pregnancy, baby and child-related issues.

WEBSITE

The password-protected members-only website provides a forum for discussion on a wide range of parentlng issues, plus additional articles, useful links and a continually updated activity schedule.

ACTIVITIES

MESSAGE has an average of 300 meetings and activities taking place throughout Paris and the suburbs every quarter, providing an invaluable means of contacting and getting to know other English-speaking families. All activities and events are organised by MESSAGE members who have volunteered their time and input to the group, and may include :

• Local walks for parents and children
• Picnics
• Pre-school children arts and crafts
• Family visits to the zoo or museum
• Children's songs and rhymes
• Pot-luck lunches
• Informal get-togethers
• Guest speaker events - topics range from bilingualism to working mothers, to postnatal exercise
• Seasonal parties
• Evening events and social activities for parents

SUPPORT SERVICES

MESSAGE provides a wide range of help and information services. They can help with choosing a doctor or a place to have your baby in Paris and preparing for birth and breastfeeding. There is a confidential support line which provides help with a wide range of child related queries. The service puts members in touch with other members who have had similar experiences, as well as providing details on helpful support organisations and contacts. Background information is available on a wide range of antenatal, postnatal and child-related topics, including: antenatal testing, caesarean sections, fertility problems, miscarriage, premature birth, postnatal worries, feeding concerns (including bottle feeding and weaning), plus concerns such as childhood asthma, bed wetting, ear infections and many others.

The education helpline provides information about education options for children. Information is provided by MESSAGE parents with experience of children's education in Paris, particularly bilingual education. The service helps to explain the different options available when choosing a school or education system and how the French primary education system works.

Other services include a register of hospitals, clinics and medical practitioners; classes in "preparation for parenthood" and a team of dedicated breastfeeding supporters.

The "Moving on Register" lists MESSAGE members who are relocating to new countries or different parts of France. The service helps to give members a point of contact when moving to a new location and where possible puts them in touch with other members from the same area.

SPECIAL MESSAGE GROUPS

Many MESSAGE members are first-time parents, many have families with three or four children of different ages and needs. Members include permanant residents and working mothers and fathers, as well as families who are in Paris on overseas postings with lengths of stay ranging from six months to three years or more. To meet the different interests of members there are a number of special-interest groups which organise regular meetings and activities, in addition to area meetings. These include:

• Working Mother Groups
• Pregnant Mother and Baby Groups
• Toddler and Pre-schooler Groups
• Twins Group
• Adoptive Parents Group

SPECIALIST TALKS

MESSAGE organises regular talks and discussion meetings for members. Guest speaker events cover a variety of topics relating to pregnancy, childbirth and childcare issues. Examples of speaker events include:

• Having a Baby in France
• Breastfeeding - Questions and Answers
• Fitness - Pre and Post Natal Exercise
• Child Psychology & Behaviour
• Nutrition
• Bilingualism and Language
• Development
• Starting Work at Home

PUBLICATIONS

A range of information leaflets are available to MESSAGE members, covering common baby and child issues and information about Paris.

MESSAGE also publishes the ABCs of Motherhood in Paris - a practical guide for English-speaking parents living in Paris with their children. It covers more than 100 topics on family life in the capital, ranging from childcare and education to using medical and emergency services.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like more information about MESSAGE Mother Support Group, log on to the website at www.messageparis.org or e-mail at info@messageparis.org

Or if you'd like to know about how helpful I've found Message to be for me and my family, then do send me an email :

Kirsty Lepage (née Sowerby)
CESEM 91
klepage@noos.fr