Comments on: Why I love socialist countries (and Anglo mother groups) http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2007/11/08/why-i-love-socialist-countries-and-anglo-mother-groups/ International lifestyle site for mums Tue, 22 May 2012 10:20:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Esther http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2007/11/08/why-i-love-socialist-countries-and-anglo-mother-groups/#comment-12 Esther Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:24:52 +0000 http://localhost/babyccino/?p=33#comment-12 Poor Michela. I'm not sure about Amsterdam yet; a lot of women are working (I haven't heard about subsidized childcare yet) so it will probably be hard to find girlfriend/mothers! I did find an international playgroup / chatgroup: www.robbeburg.com/ I went twice now on a Tuesday and it is really nice! I really like the idea of Message though, because it is more than just a playgroup - it seems to provide activities not just for the kids but also for the parents! I saw they even published a cookbook! Have you seen it? I'm interested! Can you get me one, if it's nice? Poor Michela.

I’m not sure about Amsterdam yet; a lot of women are working (I haven’t heard about subsidized childcare yet) so it will probably be hard to find girlfriend/mothers!
I did find an international playgroup / chatgroup: http://www.robbeburg.com/

I went twice now on a Tuesday and it is really nice!

I really like the idea of Message though, because it is more than just a playgroup – it seems to provide activities not just for the kids but also for the parents! I saw they even published a cookbook! Have you seen it? I’m interested! Can you get me one, if it’s nice?

]]> By: Michela http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2007/11/08/why-i-love-socialist-countries-and-anglo-mother-groups/#comment-11 Michela Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:17:57 +0000 http://localhost/babyccino/?p=33#comment-11 Then Italy must be the worst of both worlds! We pay high taxes as in France but we do not get any subsidy for childcare. State funded nursery would cost me 450 euros a month, but my son won't get a place because my husband (and now I) make too much money (or at least we do declare all our income to inland revenue). My son then goes to private nursery which sets me back 650 a month. So with all this lack of incentives for mothers to go back to work you would expect a plethora of baby groups and baby activities...WRONG!!! Very few events, and no information! Mothers can be very lonely in Italy, especially in the winter months when the only socialising places, i.e. the playgrounds, are not the most comfortable spots to hang out. Then Italy must be the worst of both worlds!
We pay high taxes as in France but we do not get any subsidy for childcare. State funded nursery would cost me 450 euros a month, but my son won’t get a place because my husband (and now I) make too much money (or at least we do declare all our income to inland revenue). My son then goes to private nursery which sets me back 650 a month.
So with all this lack of incentives for mothers to go back to work you would expect a plethora of baby groups and baby activities…WRONG!!!
Very few events, and no information!
Mothers can be very lonely in Italy, especially in the winter months when the only socialising places, i.e. the playgrounds, are not the most comfortable spots to hang out.

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