Your interactive family guide to Spain as recommended by local mums | Last updated 13 hours, 33 minutes ago
Click here to read some indepth interviews with Andalucian Mums and share their experiences of childbirth, schooling and Andalusian living.
(There are currently 22 interviews in this section)
"Education and child care is very good, they are at the local school during the term time and then they go to summer school throughout the summer. There are alot of activities for the children to do during the weekend as well" (AB, June 2011)
"As soon as we got the phone call summoning us down for the results of the triple screen I began to fear the worst - much as I hoped it was just an iron deficiency or something. We were told that the triple screen had shown a one in 108 risk of a genetic disorder, which is very high; for my age it should be one in 1000 or something. We were sent to the hospital in Granada for an amneocentesis (which we had agreed to without hesitation as the risk of miscarriage is very low"
"My sister recommended Hypnobirthing to me. She had a natural birth with her first baby and it went very well, so I was eager to take her advice. I read the book and loved the idea, so I thought I'd try it. I'd say it definitely helped me to remain calm during birthing. It taught me a lot about what to expect and what was happening with my body" (BB, July 09)
"A lovely lady who didn't know was asking if I was ok and massaging my back as she'd seen Jmaie come in with me and then have to go and park the car. This was a bit worrying as they wanted to get me up to the labour ward and Jamie wasn't back from parking the car!!! It is a big hospital and was very busy, but Jamie was brought up by a really nice porter, phew! Considering that Granada Hospital is quite modern none of the staff knew what a TENS machine was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They thought I was quite bonkers with my funny contraption." (CW, Aug 2011)
"I don't really feel that I’m part of an international community, I’m more part of a large Spanish (Marbellan) family. The main disadvantage of not being Spanish is that my network of friends is somewhat limited and it’s been harder to meet parents who have kids the same age " (ET, July 09)
"Many Sevillanos are closed to the outside world, and are very insular. But there are also those who love to meet foreigners. It's a city of huge contrasts" (FFW, Jan 2011)
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"You do have the ability to be able to help others or offer advice and
help. My children speak dual languages and are finding other languages
easier to learn. You can be made to feel a foreigner at times, but you
just have to take it in your stride. Just keep making the effort" (JB, Jan 2011)" I think the main advantage for me is that I can see my kids growing up bilingually which is an absolute delight. The climate is great too (except for July and August which are in the high 40s here, but we escape to the UK then) so you can get outside with them. I also think their classmates are less image / brand / electronic gadget conscious than their peers in the UK, which I like. We are a bit of an oddity here as there aren't many foreign families and I quite enjoy that - it's given me a chance to give something back to the kids' school, for example, as I teach my son's class English on a voluntary basis. English is such a prized subject here for parents that it's a nice way to be able to do that." (JN, Nov 09)
"They say Spain isn’t just sunshine and siestas. But inherently the weather and the relaxed way of life are the two things I enjoy. It’s not about getting a tan, it’s about the outdoor life and the relaxed attitude and way of life here. It’s also about finding like-minded people who thrive off a similar lifestyle" (KS, Sep 2011)
"The locals have been hugely welcoming. When my family had the tapas bar we had a large Spanish clientele my brother and I both had our weddings in the village with the help of the townhall and the locals to arrange them. When my daughter was born people were so kind with gifts and the older women were popping in with yogurts and fruit to "keep my strength up", there is one or two I have had words with (normally to do with animal cruelty) but all in all we have been treated wonderfully. I have found though that the foreigners who mix with the locals (shops, bars, fiestas, church, school, work, ect) are the foreigners who stay. They are accepted and seen as willing to adapt , those who tend to refuse to try and speak Spanish and live lifeapart from the Spaniards in the village become bored or lonely and tend to move" (LC, Sep 2011)
Click here to read Laura's full story about life as a Mum in an Andalucian village
"I have friends back in the UK who cant justify spending most of their salary on childcare just to go to work, and I find it very worrying that there is a whole generation of skilled and qualified professional women who are facing such huge financial barriers to be able to carry on their work after having children. I think its great that many mums prefer to stay at home with the children, but for those who wish to work, Spain makes is much easier to do so." (Sep, 2011)
"Mijas pueblo is a perfect place for our children to grow up. There is always something happening. The ferias are small enough that we do not worry about losing them (unlike when we venture down to the larger ferias on the coast). Anytime we wander around the village their friends call out to them … it is a lovely, safe, family environment. Imagine going to school in a village where you can get stuck behind horse and carriages anddonkey taxis … it´s almost a fairy tale for a child!" (LS, Nov 2011)
"I think the main advantage is the instant connections you make with other people who, like you, are here because they have chosen to be. In London and New York friendships and groups are so stratified and undiverse – there are so many people all around you, but you don’t speak to them or get introduced without a reason or a purpose, you just walk past one another.Here you meet people from all over with different backgrounds and histories and interests etc... and you immediately have that vital thing in common, that you made this move happen. You each have that story, and other people’s ‘why Spain then?’ stories are interesting and important, and break the ice straight away. So you make friendships you never would in the UK, in the UK you'd never be at the same BBQ in the first place probably! I know I take the mickey out of my fellow expats but I do love them dearly. I think the expat network here takes the place in some ways of the extended family we’ve left behind in the UK" (LP, Jan 2011)
"I had both my girls at the Hospital Inmaculada in Huercal Overa, Almeria and although I can’t compare it to having a baby in a UK Hospital I can only say that I thought the treatment was fantastic and the hospital was incredible. My mum was like a Japanese tourist inside taking loads of photos – she couldn’t believe the level of cleanliness throughout. All the rooms were for 2 women sharing with an en-suite bathroom. My partner was also allowed to stay with me throughout the night...." (MC, November 2011)
"If you are having a baby, I would suggest you write a birthing plan. I noticed a big difference in how I was treated as opposed to those who didn't have one" (PG, Sep 2011)
"My first was born at the home of a midwife in Marbella - the only ¨home birth¨ option available to me at the time and was a very special experience, although I do wish i´d had more (or some) after care and support. My second was born in the car on the way to our closest hospital!! A two hour labour without any complications - apart from the chaos that ensued upon our arrival at the hospital. I cant say i´m happy with the way birth is treated here but things are slowly changing and I was lucky enough to have healthy strong babies - very quickly! " (SD, Sep 11)
"Before the accident I was similar to a runaway train, never giving myself time to relax, always working. I have had the experience now of helplessness then I had to let go and accept. I feel there is a lot more to life and if we just let go and accept everything that happens to us we actually enjoy life a lot more as everything does happen for a reason!" (SE, Dec 2010)
"There are certainly lots of children and families in Seville, but there is little in terms of activities for children. Good parks are hard to come by and ones they do build new are hard to get to! (The city recently built a fantastic park with a huge Pirate boat and lots of other fun items, and it's right along the river, but you must go down these terrible stairs to get there, almost impossible with a carriage!)" (SG, Jan 2012)
"We have lots of local friends. Everyone meets on the village square on Friday afternoons, parents in the cafes, kids all playing together. We live on a street with lots of children and they all play every afternoon, in and out of ‘abuelita’s house for treats" (SH Nov 2010)
"The children found school difficult and after 3 years we made the decision to transfer them to an international school where they are now top of the class. My children actually missed talking English and despite understanding and talking Spanish they felt that they switched off in class a lot through boredom. So we now have the added bonus of a house inland and one down on the coast - bliss. There is a difference in the hours of the local and international schools in that the international schools are longer. I find wearing uniforms a huge plus and the choice of subjects is immense. I have also been impressed with the after school activities" (Dec, 2011)
"I avoid doctors unless absolutely necessary, and so far we've been fortunate not to need anything beyond vaccinations." (TL, Au 09)
"We are all different, our culture and upbringing mould the decision we make in life. In the West, birth has generally bad press, everyone has a horror story to tell. We need to be reminded that to be pregnant is an ultimately healthy state. Your body has welcomed the enormous job of growing another being. This is not an illness but a ‘blooming’" (VB, Sep 09)
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