tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post7593168448999926940..comments2024-02-13T05:20:46.558-05:00Comments on A CUP OF JO: 15 Surprising Things about Parenting in England Joanna Goddardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18109285188206811042noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-73483275967648260962015-02-10T12:37:52.573-05:002015-02-10T12:37:52.573-05:00I am an American but really feel half-British sinc...I am an American but really feel half-British since I married a Brit, lived in England for almost 7 years and had 2 of my children there. We are currently living in Nashville but would move back to England in a heartbeat! I agree with most of the post however couldn't disagree more on the "making friends" topic. I actually find the opposite to be true! I have always said since I first started traveling to the UK that Americans are much more friendly in public but British tend to be much more heart felt friends. We found that the "tea drinking" ritual made for an extremely easy starting place for friendships. It is so easy to invite someone round for a cup of tea and the expectations are understood. Many times a cup of tea turned into an impromptu meal or stroll in the park but it was at least a very good starting place. We moved around quite a bit while we lived in England (London, Nottingham, Newcastle) and found great friends in every location very quickly!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10535550438718922317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-81926634492759082182014-12-16T17:14:13.786-05:002014-12-16T17:14:13.786-05:00It's nice getting an insight into motherhood a...It's nice getting an insight into motherhood across the World - however I have to say that it would be more beneficial if the parents were actually FROM the countries that they are writing about. <br /><br />As for me, a British woman born and living in London with my husband and children very little of this rings true with my experience of parenting in London. In fact I would say that live is only like this for a very few select women who are privileged enough to live in mews houses in the West End of London, those for example who would have the Ginger Pig as their local butcher!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07541434941536394313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-47315130604233160032014-08-28T16:28:36.639-04:002014-08-28T16:28:36.639-04:00I wish I had gotten this advice four years ago, be...I wish I had gotten this advice four years ago, before moving to Bermuda. There's such a heavy British influence here including a large Brit ex pat community. I've often felt like despite speaking the same language, I have no clue what they are talking about!! It's taken time, to crack the code, but all of your comments were spot on! <br /><br />Best,<br />sadafAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00856708363761638585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-3975838307233297872014-07-24T03:37:53.850-04:002014-07-24T03:37:53.850-04:00Some of this post actually made me laugh out loud....Some of this post actually made me laugh out loud. As a Scottish expat living in Dubai for the last 13 years, reading about living in London from a American perspective was hilarious, and actually made me quite homesick. <br /><br />The part about seeing someone on the bus crying and just 'leaving them alone' is classic British-ness. Love it.daniella beattiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10742907781322760660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-30270830021096608502014-07-21T02:53:10.410-04:002014-07-21T02:53:10.410-04:00I recently moved to England from the US with my 5 ...I recently moved to England from the US with my 5 year old, and I have a question about toilets/loos/restrooms/whatever you want to call them. In the US, I feel like there were bathrooms everywhere. When my kid needed to go, we found the nearest store and asked to use their bathroom. No problem. In the UK, I've found this to be much more difficult. Almost no where lets us use the bathroom. Where can we find bathrooms to use when we're out?emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12945793193044137020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-36161472980044201402014-07-14T14:25:51.881-04:002014-07-14T14:25:51.881-04:00This was so spot on - as an American who had a bab...This was so spot on - as an American who had a baby in London, I remember it all well. We've just had our second baby in the States and having a baby here feels foreign to me. One of the other things I found in having a baby there was that the generous leave policy meant that there was more time and interest in making real friendships with other moms. I am still in touch with my NCT class and often long for those days of mommy & baby yoga, walks around Hyde park, lunches at Whole Foods. Thanks so much for the nostalgia.lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01657247770827588992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-30467545472706220522014-07-13T15:59:29.398-04:002014-07-13T15:59:29.398-04:00This article couldn't have come at a better ti...This article couldn't have come at a better time in my life - my family (my husband and our 2 1/2 year-old daughter) are relocating to West London in early September. A friend passed this along. I very much look forward to the experience as a whole and found this perspective extremely helpful. Thank you for your honesty (or... I suppose 'candor' would be a proper British way to put it!) :)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02127948041150731790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-90141202722543660932014-07-13T09:06:29.914-04:002014-07-13T09:06:29.914-04:00Thanks for the interesting read, I am from Canada ...Thanks for the interesting read, I am from Canada and found myself thinking about how my own parents must have felt moving here. <br /><br />From the post and personal experience, I think that here in Canada its a mix of little American and mostly British behaviours. Luckily class structure is seemingly is only a point of discussion in some multi-cultural communities, it feels completely foreign and unsettling when you hear it.shihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145088813319662766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-2740823759869617292014-07-12T14:50:06.934-04:002014-07-12T14:50:06.934-04:00Our family was lucky enough to live in England for...Our family was lucky enough to live in England for one year. This post brought back so many great memories. Thanks. You might be interested in reading my parenting blog at http://splashparenting.blogspot.com<br /><br />splashparenting.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16898130812209665771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-73408919785340553272014-07-12T02:58:13.779-04:002014-07-12T02:58:13.779-04:00Thanks for sharing your life in England.Thanks for sharing your life in England.likeschocolatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01733431135937009206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-41107022440184996212014-07-10T18:50:32.859-04:002014-07-10T18:50:32.859-04:00I love this series! I'm british with a South a...I love this series! I'm british with a South african husband and I'm going to send this to my inlaws as I'm always trying to explain what its polite to say and what it isnt and the class system which is just ridculously hard to explain but definitely is still an issue in society (even though lots of people say it isnt!) I think this post sums it all up perfectly!! <br /><br />Rachie xo<br /><br />PS: As a mum to an 11 month year old I am always knackered!! (Use this expression all the time!!)Rachie @ A Chi Chi Affairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846422810188794192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-70092200320605403432014-07-10T17:52:20.067-04:002014-07-10T17:52:20.067-04:00My favorite series! Love, love, love. Please conti...My favorite series! Love, love, love. Please continue, it's so fascinating!Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15104292526834517978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-50034029474626135142014-07-10T16:07:31.556-04:002014-07-10T16:07:31.556-04:00I think the mark of a civilized nation is how well... I think the mark of a civilized nation is how well new parents are accomdated...in the US, capitolism seems rule out a national plan that supports growing a family on any practical matters. We're just supposed to figure it out for ourselves, not that that's necessarily a bad thing, we just haven't yet come up with a solution or lobbied for it yet. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-24974847559817275512014-07-10T13:38:39.680-04:002014-07-10T13:38:39.680-04:00I also love Bourbon Creams, but as an American, I ...I also love Bourbon Creams, but as an American, I don't have access to them. To satisfy my cravings, I found a recipe on the Tesco website, and converted it to American measurements. These are so good!<br /><br />http://kitchenfailure.blogspot.com/2014/05/bourbon-cremes.html<br /><br />Amy Diestlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952868876653563072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-71267069717216124152014-07-09T20:57:48.988-04:002014-07-09T20:57:48.988-04:00Loved this post! I'm an Anglophile, too (mothe...Loved this post! I'm an Anglophile, too (mother's family from Lake District) and I have lots of English food (and tea) on my blog. We have friends, wife American, husband English, who raised their daughter in England up to about age 7 then moved to US. Sad to see her losing her accent!Jean | DelightfulRepast.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02038772991628796917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-31094384065662533762014-07-09T20:57:48.789-04:002014-07-09T20:57:48.789-04:00Loved this post! I'm an Anglophile, too (mothe...Loved this post! I'm an Anglophile, too (mother's family from Lake District) and I have lots of English food (and tea) on my blog. We have friends, wife American, husband English, who raised their daughter in England up to about age 7 then moved to US. Sad to see her losing her accent!Jean | DelightfulRepast.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02038772991628796917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-37822072339835235742014-07-09T18:02:24.635-04:002014-07-09T18:02:24.635-04:00The 'deprecating your own children' comme...The 'deprecating your own children' comment is an interesting one - there seems to be a lot going on there. It's partly about not bragging, yes - and teaching your children to fit in and not break the rules about self-promotion. But it's also about taking the pressure off, the pressure to be amazing. It reminded me of one of the wisest things I've read on your blog, Joanna - or perhaps on any parenting blog. You said 'What are the best six words you can say to your child?' and the answer was 'I love to watch you play'. Not that they're 'Great' at it (performance pressure and sel-consciousness). It's a great gift, the English have, not taking yourself too seriously.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01492898366736309063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-85841367908292125812014-07-09T15:06:26.985-04:002014-07-09T15:06:26.985-04:00As an American bloke living in the UK for the past...As an American bloke living in the UK for the past 12 years with my Enhlish wife and 4 year old son, I have to say that your post is spot on! It's a bit different up here in t' North (basically outside the M25). I've tried for years to sum up the differences but have never been able to quite so eloquently. Well done!Curly boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10876873927036087339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-85923125534561059302014-07-09T15:00:29.056-04:002014-07-09T15:00:29.056-04:00Thanks for sharing! I'm also an American Expat...Thanks for sharing! I'm also an American Expat. :) I had to go through this culture shock in terms of different childcare language as I worked as a nanny for my first year here while I was in school. I must live very close to you in Kensington, as the picture of the Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street is right next to the art gallery I work in (Calken Gallery). It's such a beautiful area!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13713209928927025799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-80538955306839948262014-07-09T12:06:19.880-04:002014-07-09T12:06:19.880-04:00@jojo I live in SF and kids and babies are regular...@jojo I live in SF and kids and babies are regularly on public transit & ride in cabs (I think the same goes for NYC and other cities). Most parents wear babies on public transit, and kids sit on laps or on the seat next to them. I've buckled friends' kids in cabs before (who would otherwise be in a car seat in their own car). I'd take kids out of a stroller, and fold it up on a bus or train. It takes up way too much room for other passengers! Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729876430325305375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-33795330670076883472014-07-09T10:28:20.785-04:002014-07-09T10:28:20.785-04:00LOVE this series! I think it is fascinating! I alw...LOVE this series! I think it is fascinating! I always read every word of these posts! Thanks for sharing!Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06681714674959989801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-26033645117671378152014-07-09T09:38:51.290-04:002014-07-09T09:38:51.290-04:00Happy to see this series back. It's my favorit...Happy to see this series back. It's my favorite! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-57602899381966305172014-07-09T07:27:15.182-04:002014-07-09T07:27:15.182-04:00Either this person moves in very middle class circ...Either this person moves in very middle class circles or is living in some strange Hugh Grant England. Still makes for interesting reading.<br /><br />We’re enduring little Tommy’s efforts of learning the violin. Pass me my brolly!<br /><br />And only chavs get drunk at children's parties :)Graphic Foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06996991111308891331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-67391285673151285522014-07-09T06:58:26.321-04:002014-07-09T06:58:26.321-04:00One thing the writer missed out is the rivalry bet...One thing the writer missed out is the rivalry between the different areas of London, namely north vs south, plus north south divide across the country. Usually it is just fun, but I think some take it a little too seriously as expressed by Jessica Rose. It is very immature to assume that another commentator is from North London. London is extremely diverse these days and a better place for it. As the writer has pointed out, there is still a class structure, although thankfully it isn't very important these days. Phrases such as 'pop a sprog' and 'havin' a larf' may well be commonly spoken in the East End but far less so in say Chiswick or Mayfair. I am sure most Londoners and British, lower to upper classes will have heard these phrases but they may not be widely spoken everywhere.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07821014636410888949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-56016457837894128222014-07-08T22:26:33.022-04:002014-07-08T22:26:33.022-04:00What fascinates me is how similar this is to Canad...What fascinates me is how similar this is to Canada (albiet more diluted here, but still...). I guess English colonization really stuck around here when it comes to parenting!Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01028440989658953265noreply@blogger.com