tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post8987143522378692788..comments2024-02-13T05:20:46.558-05:00Comments on A CUP OF JO: 20 Surprising Things about Parenting in GermanyJoanna Goddardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18109285188206811042noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-72434281274844509652014-10-08T03:44:13.357-04:002014-10-08T03:44:13.357-04:00VERY well observed! I'm an American living in ...VERY well observed! I'm an American living in HAmburg with a three year old son and have observed all of these things (only thing I feel compelled to mention is that each German state determines the amount of child care subsidy -- so in Hamburg for instance it's not free but deeply subsidized and every kid is guaranteed a spot once they are one).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16629225799424239278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-43915526951332245862014-08-25T20:58:14.363-04:002014-08-25T20:58:14.363-04:00"In general, Germans are allergic to insincer..."In general, Germans are allergic to insincerity, which is refreshing." I loved so many things about this article. Like enough things that I won't show this article to my husband because he would never stop begging me to move to Germany already. Especially Luisa's thoughts on sharing! I can't tell you how many times I've told my son (in German) to stand up for himself on a playground. I always feel sneaky because we speak a different language and most people won't understand. But as he's gotten older (and has to live with a brother who is constantly in his business), I do emphasize sharing much more.Brooklynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08134341254440924162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-57900240182107503582014-08-22T02:47:31.381-04:002014-08-22T02:47:31.381-04:00I currently live in Berlin and my only wish is to ...I currently live in Berlin and my only wish is to stay long enough to give birth here. The doctors are so lovely. I think being fast and efficient is mistaken for being cold/rude by many people, but they are so polite and respectful here. <br /><br />I found myself nodding to many of Luisa's insights and have also learned a great deal of new things from this article. So happy that I found this article. Keep up the amazing work Joanna and Luisa!The Diplomatic Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17859473808902687035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-9730119640790003992014-08-12T11:01:46.430-04:002014-08-12T11:01:46.430-04:00Great post! Thanks!Great post! Thanks!Renée Anne Bouffard-McManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580483942114248806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-79077693029475218622014-08-11T17:37:53.737-04:002014-08-11T17:37:53.737-04:00Vanessa, Kita costs differ from federal state to f...Vanessa, Kita costs differ from federal state to federal state and are calculated on a sliding scale if your family income is below a certain level. The price is also adjusted depending on whether you put your kid in daycare full time (7-9 hrs/day), part-time (3-5 hrs/day) or "teilzeit" (5-7 hrs/day. In Berlin, for example, a combined annual family income of €80k and above means you pay the full amount for Kita: circa €420/month for full-time care. (Individual Kitas may have extra charges for organic food or music teachers or other "extras" that might add on a few dozen Euros/month.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-1936261099434676332014-08-09T17:55:22.807-04:002014-08-09T17:55:22.807-04:00Thanks for such an interesting and informative pos...Thanks for such an interesting and informative post! I always like to remove myself from the parenting bubble I have around me and remember that when I'm here writing about parenting and education, there are millions of people who that approach or experience is completely different for, and the issues that I'm writing to are irrelevant -- yet, there are common threads, struggles and delights.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08085491785980784751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-3775444948267048872014-08-06T12:29:16.709-04:002014-08-06T12:29:16.709-04:00A really great article - thanks for writing it. It...A really great article - thanks for writing it. It's very timely as my husband and I are contemplating a move to Germany. We just moved back to the US from England after just having my first born, and my god, they don't take care of their citizens at all here! In England I was getting statutory pay from the government even though I was unemployed, just because I had a baby! And the midwives would also come to my house after the baby was born to check on me and him. I guess my main question with moving to Germany is, how much do the daycares/tagesmutter cost or does the government provide that for free?Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933770527286257987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-25047579567307659252014-07-29T15:30:22.661-04:002014-07-29T15:30:22.661-04:00Oh I just moved back to the States from Muenster (...Oh I just moved back to the States from Muenster (in the NRW) and the thing about meaningful friendships is so, so true. I always tell people many Germans are like M&M's. :) Hard outer shell, but sweet and soft on the inside. Once you connect, you are lifelong friends and they will go to the end of the earth for you and never bat an eyelash. That was my favorite thing about Germany. The honesty, the lack of insincerity, and the meaningful relationships.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15119808772807734465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-71365120451741067372014-07-28T17:30:54.863-04:002014-07-28T17:30:54.863-04:00I think I want to live in Berlin!!! It definitely ...I think I want to live in Berlin!!! It definitely sounds like a child-friendly place where we could holiday with our little.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03325846114001447090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-84869710435540578932014-07-28T14:52:46.471-04:002014-07-28T14:52:46.471-04:00im absolutely obsessed with your blog. such great ...im absolutely obsessed with your blog. such great content. I enjoy blogs of good quality and thats what you give....<br /><br />please check out my fashion and travel blog.<br /><br />The-rolemodel.com<br /><br />Best regardsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08669703938236149779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-73500565473224321482014-07-25T14:19:07.736-04:002014-07-25T14:19:07.736-04:00It's funny: Being a Berlin-born-and-raised-gir...It's funny: Being a Berlin-born-and-raised-girl this one really opened my eyes on how different motherhood and parenting is all over the world can be just BECAUSE all the stated things seem so natural to me.Ainhoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01528733357957034410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-11539876905920818182014-07-25T14:14:11.255-04:002014-07-25T14:14:11.255-04:00I really enjoyed this article, and this entire ser...I really enjoyed this article, and this entire series! I'm not a mother (yet!) but this is really opening my eyes to how motherhood and families operate across the world! Thanks! <br /><br />MichelleMichellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03546310788458302521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-58276306980617579742014-07-25T11:24:30.578-04:002014-07-25T11:24:30.578-04:00This is my favorite thing on your blog. Love this ...This is my favorite thing on your blog. Love this series!Molly @ The Nesting Gamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751140816986480414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-32430252433067282082014-07-24T16:53:24.877-04:002014-07-24T16:53:24.877-04:00I love reading this series. This one in particular...I love reading this series. This one in particularly heart-warming because having gone through a similar childbirth experience recently, it was interesting to see how it is handled in other countries. <br /><br />I too am tickled and now would love to visit Germany just by the lovely descriptions and the beautiful photos.Star1atseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01694479971003795903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-19427839388839925572014-07-24T02:30:23.734-04:002014-07-24T02:30:23.734-04:00This is the best series ever! I love it.
p.s. H...This is the best series ever! I love it.<br /><br />p.s. Hugo is insanely adorable!Jessica Harris Telligmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13728409662431529635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-20055777454743258162014-07-23T20:03:28.226-04:002014-07-23T20:03:28.226-04:00Love this series! Joanna, I think you should make ...Love this series! Joanna, I think you should make a book out of these! It could be such a cool gift for new mamas -- it helps you keep things in perspective for all that's to come in motherhood.Cheveuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15303833460312613334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-39801473950178404882014-07-23T15:30:36.407-04:002014-07-23T15:30:36.407-04:00Super article! We moved to Hamburg from Prague whe...Super article! We moved to Hamburg from Prague when I was already pregnant and must say that it is realy so kid-family friendly here. Hamburg is more friendlier, many people in malls were commenting on our adorable baby, same in restaurants. Our midwife kept coming for 3 months and then around 5-6 month again to give advice for starting with solid foods. My husband is American and he can see how different life balance is here..Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671298949904978433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-43705306069530754472014-07-23T13:02:25.257-04:002014-07-23T13:02:25.257-04:00Luisa is wonderful and so is Berlin! I founded the...Luisa is wonderful and so is Berlin! I founded theBABYSITTERSclub in Berlin, Germany about 3 years ago: a network dedicated to helping bi-lingual parents find native speaking and bi-lingual sitters. Loved meeting and helping so many Moms from all over find great childcare. Way to go Luisa she's a personal friend of some of my friends there, so even cooler to see her featured here. Berlin is the best. Ever. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003908091648422355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-7921974035942630872014-07-23T11:24:09.729-04:002014-07-23T11:24:09.729-04:00sherrie, that's so exciting! where are you guy...sherrie, that's so exciting! where are you guys moving? we haven't interviewed a mother in italy for this round of the series, but i will scout around to see if we can fit another post in!Joanna Goddardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18109285188206811042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-76636022947265768392014-07-23T11:21:23.932-04:002014-07-23T11:21:23.932-04:00This series is fantastic! Is Italy on the horizon?...This series is fantastic! Is Italy on the horizon? We'll be moving there in a few months and I'd love some insight on parenting there!Sherriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022205596965933422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-56459157679063151212014-07-23T10:43:27.550-04:002014-07-23T10:43:27.550-04:00Fascinating. I absolutely love this series. Fascinating. I absolutely love this series. smashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05026873770802006317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-74619226538993045472014-07-23T05:06:13.117-04:002014-07-23T05:06:13.117-04:00Really a great post. And I am happily surprised to...Really a great post. And I am happily surprised to see such a good review of parenting in Berlin. As I am a father of a 1-year-old boy here in Berlin, I can confirm that at least 95% applies for me, too.<br /><br />MartinMartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956663494154414563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-20898222053742447302014-07-23T04:59:17.687-04:002014-07-23T04:59:17.687-04:00Janan - The distance isn't so large if you con...Janan - The distance isn't so large if you consider the general culture here. Parents really subscribe to the idea that your child is a separate person from you almost from the start and try to respect that as the child goes from infancy to childhood to teenager-hood. Sleepovers are one way for parents to feel that they are least giving their teenagers a safe and supervised space to be together with each other. And I think there's a sense that it promotes kind and tender relationships as opposed to furtive promiscuity? There's a lot of openness about healthy sexuality here. Also, keep in mind that sleepovers don't necessarily automatically mean that 14 year olds are having sex with each other. Most kids that age aren't ready for that step, sleepovers or not. Luisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02051820032212821502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-50408865020090438392014-07-23T03:53:30.713-04:002014-07-23T03:53:30.713-04:00Lovely article, but I have to disagree on two poin...Lovely article, but I have to disagree on two points:<br />one, children are allowed to be in daycare from the age of 1 by law, and two, self-employed people are allowed only two months of leave, not twelve, at least in my Land (region). Which can make things difficult if you have to work and can't find daycare!Sabinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02527293997074459458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28060897.post-84522125703917896112014-07-23T02:09:58.628-04:002014-07-23T02:09:58.628-04:00I like they do not value beeing a workacholic... i...I like they do not value beeing a workacholic... i am spanish, i will tell my boss ; )<br />About the bikes, here in Spain is the same, my old son ride a real bike since he was 3, it is normal here<br />very interesting the self suffience training for kids, i tell my kids they have to share too<br /><br />Love this posts!La Casa Atelierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01042882666604672605noreply@blogger.com