Living in France with just my hubby and kids has been quite challenging because there are no relatives to help when I am choked up with chores and academic work. But thanks to the French system that has made provision for child-care centres.
My greatest supports are my children's school and care minder respectively. My daughter who is 4 stays in school till 4.45pm daily except on Wednesdays and my son (2yrs old) who found it difficult adjusting initially stays with his care minder till 5pm daily except on Wednesdays which he stays home with me all day. I try to do all I have to do during school hours and make sure I spend the remaining part of the evenings with my husband and kids. Just of recent I was able to talk my husband into participating in school runs which he gladly does now, so it is much better for me than it used to be last year. Calls I receive from my mum in Nigeria almost on a daily basis keep me going, indeed she is my emotional support after my husband. Financially, my husband has been very supportive--Kudos to him.
It was pretty difficult initially when my daughter stayed at school till 11.30am and my son was home with me everyday. School runs was not palatable as I had to drop her by 9am and then pick her in the next 2hrs. Without the support of my hubby and children's school, maybe I wouldn't have been able to meet up with my academics and other social engagements. Thanks to them all.
