Aujourd’hui c’est la fête des mères. The kids are away—Jackie in New York, Max in Spain (for an enterrement de vie de garçon. Can you guess what that is?). Thank you, Ana, for the thoughtful invitation to lunch, where I was in good company with two other moms (Annie, Ana’s grand-mère, and Catherine, Ana’s mom), two daughters (Ana and her sister Clémentine), and a small … Continue reading It’s Mother’s Day in France
The curtain is now opening on today's pièce: a feisty (and sentimental) mother-daughter story. My mom loved these circus curtains, seen on a recent walk together. Jules sewed our dresses when my sister and I were little, and these rideaux remind me of our visits to the fabric store. TODAY’S WORD: "Avoir du cran" : to have guts, grit, to be brave A … Continue reading Avoir du Cran (To be brave in French) + Mom and I get in a little fight & end up at the circus
An ancient hair-salon-turned-fashion boutique in Paris where you can buy a glittery 70s ensemble and more. Don't miss the sound file, near the end, with all the French vocabulary from this edition. Follow me on Instagram or here on Facebook to ensure you are receiving the weekly posts (which don't always end up in your emails–owing to filters, a full inbox, and other issues beyond … Continue reading Coqueluche: My teen heartthrob & 70s fashion through a French girl’s eyes
Would this picture be good for the La Ciotat postcard series? Thanks for your helpful feedback and for your postcard orders this week! I am enjoying the quiet, mindful activity of addressing envelopes and my handwriting is slowly improving 🙂 TODAY’S WORD: s'abandonner : to surrender yourself to, to unburden yourself A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse As I walked into Le … Continue reading Advice for Each Decade of Life & Surrender: A Mother Daughter update
In this essay, I take a scenic walk with my daughter and we come across a watercolor artist. However, the main theme revolves around the art of folding sheets. I seize the opportunity to teach my daughter how to fold a fitted sheet, reminiscing about my great-grandmother Audrey and the valuable lessons she taught me. The experience becomes emotional as I express my desire to be there for my daughter and show her everything before she grows up. The essay also explores the impending departure of my son, Max, and the mixed feelings it brings.
Continue reading “Bed sheet” in French: On teaching your kids last-minute lessons
The little cabanon, the one that makes a cameo in today's story… .habitude (ah-bee-tood) noun, feminine : habit Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these words: Download MP3 or Wave file prendre de mauvaises habitudes = to pick up bad habitsj'ai l'habitude = I'm used to itd'habitude = as a rulecomme d'habitude = as usual French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Sainte Nuit", "La Marche … Continue reading Motherhood & Max goes to driver’s school
A child care center in Flayosc. Seems like yesterday that my son went to the crèche… read on in today’s column. ado (adoh) noun, masculine, feminine : teen (short for un(e) adolescent = teenager) Note: the audio file feature will return on Monday. . Does “ado” mean adieu to childhood? There is something in the air around here and it smells like Adieu, like goodbye … Continue reading ado
