Barcelona Mum

What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Barcelona?
Zoe Koumbouzi, 27, Eixample Derecho, 4 years.

Do you work, and if so what do you do?
I’m a freelance journalist. I also teach post-natal exercise (CorreCoching) and act as a breastfeeding councellor with ALBA Lactancia.

What nationality are you and your partner?
I am British and half Greek, my partner is a Londoner with Colombian parents.

How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
Luca, 2.

What was your experience of having a baby in Barcelona? (if relevant)
I had a fantastic homebirth with the Mare Nostrum center. Before giving birth I hadn’t heard about the fact that birth was so medicalised here, or any of the horror stories that I know now, I would have chosen homebirth in any country. Having a young baby was great, I loved it and always felt welcome bringing him with me and breastfeeding in public. I love the way people are so friendly to pregnant women and babies/children. Having a baby here really connected me with people in my area as they would always chat to me when I went about my daily trips. When Luca was older it made an impact on me that a high percentage of babies here are in nursery from quite early on- parks were a bit lonely during the day. I combated this by becoming involved in lots of groups and mothers-meets, and also by doing any classes that were available like baby yoga, swimming etc.

How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
Hmmm…! I don’t think we are that integrated- I mean, we don’t speak Catalan, and we have few Spanish-speaking friends (by that I mean people we speak Spanish with who don’t speak English). In a way we live in a bit of a bubble. I have given it a lot of thought and I feel that if we stay we will integrate more as Luca grows up and starts school. I definitely want to learn Catalan so I can understand his (Luca’s) culture. Being bi-cultural ourselves we know it’s important to make an effort to stay connected to your children’s culture, especially if it’s different from your own.

What language do you speak to your children?
English

What has your impression been of childcare and education in Barcelona so far?
Childcare is expensive and, to me, extremely lagging in terms of childcare philosophy. It seems as if much modern child psychology research hasn’t reached here. To me, it’s a concern that little babies are in nursery all day with a very low (is it 8:1) carer:baby ratio (for toddlers I think its 18:1 by law). But, sadly, there isn’t much option for families- maternity leave is only 4 months and society, from my experience, is very much against stay-at-home mums (is it a backlash because women were so oppressed under Franco? Who knows, anyway, that’s another story). Apart from that there is no childminder system, as in the UK, which would alleviate an over run and under funded public nursery system (public places only cover 10% I think of all needed places).I also think it’s of concern that children go to school so early (and so long- 9-5), and yes I know that they supposedly don’t get ‘taught’ as such, but I think the pressure to give the children a ‘head start’ in reading (for example) is probably big enough (esp in some of the feeder pre-schools that are attached to big schools) for the teachers to do it. I am against teaching little children formally, from what I’ve read it is largely counter-productive.

How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Barcelona?
There are a few classes for babies and mums, but then there is a massive gap for activities you can do until about age 3 and up. Then most of the activities tale place outside school/nursery hours. People are very child friendly and genuine. But not lots going on apart from parks and very sporadic library readings (but in Catalan, so lost on me).

What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Barcelona?
Advantages are you can be outside of the mould. I don’t feel pressured to send my child to all day care, or school, or to conform to the ‘rules’ because the rules don’t apply to me. Another advantage of being as foreigner is bringing fresh ideas here (eg. CorreCoching), there are lots of things that haven’t been done and gaps in the market. Disadvantages are that you don’t have family or established old friends to baby-sit for an hour while you go to the dentist or something!

Is there anything you think would improve children´s lives in Barcelona?
More green space, ludoteca’s and activities. Support (social/financial) for parents who want to keep their children at home longer.

What do you wish you had been told before you came to Barcelona?
That when the time came and I needed to, I would learn Spanish no problem. I really beat myself up for the first year about it as I had no time or money to study. Then suddenly I did, and I picked it up really quickly.

What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Barcelona with children?
Research nurseries and schools thoroughly (who wouldn’t?!) and don’t assume they have the same philosophy as where you come from . Ask about how they deal with discipline, how they deal with a child if they don’t want to eat or comply, visit more than once, watch the carers for signs of stress..etc. Realise that there is always an alternative of you look for it and want it-here of all places. (In birth, in childcare, in schools)

What couldn´t you live without in Barcelona?
My son.

What could you live without?!
The terrible noise pollution.