Your interactive family guide to Spain as recommended by local mums | Last updated 13 hours, 39 minutes ago
Here we have some indepth interviews with Mums in the Balearics and share their experiences of childbirth, schooling and life in the Balearics.
(There are currently 6 interviews in this section).
"..children grow up with open minds, and are more accepting to change and different ways of life. Great sense of freedom, especially where we live, children can spend time outdoors in a safe environment" (AT, Nov 2010)
"Initially, I didn't start with kids in Ibiza to make any profit. The idea was to provide a multilingual information source for parents about what and where to do things with kids in Ibiza since there was none. It turned into a business when we reacted to our visitors needs. I believe I have a good gestoria that advices me well and as i'm fluent in Spanish setting it up as a business has been ok. I did find it much harder than in Germany though, where they seem to be making people's lives much easier than here when setting up a business. Here the first thing you hear is how much you'll have to pay everywhere" (CB, November 2011)
"..Our boys are not English - they are European and come from a Multi-cultural background which in itself this for the future is great: They will have a wider perceptive and knowledge of living abroad – this again is ‘Experience of Life’ which can only do a lot of good in the future. It is not easy living abroad and one has to be prepared to work very hard to reap the rewards. A lot of respect, tolerance and patience are required because ‘things’ do work differently in Mallorca. If one comes over with an arrogant attitude and expect everything to be perfect and live a British Life style - then I say to those people, to ‘THINK AGAIN!’ One has to be willing to compromise sometimes… " (DG)
"Its an amazing place to bring up children! It has a bit of everything and people from everywhere. Though if someone has only been here in the summer months, they should try a winter first as it is very different. Many prefer it but many find it difficult because it is quiet. But you can't beat being on the beach (clothes on)after school in mid february...and most of the winter....bar a few snowy weeks we had this winter!" (GW, March 2012)
"Here in Mallorca everything seems so much more medical. I had scans every 4 weeks and when I went to hospital in labour, I had to lie in bed and wasn’t allowed to move or have anything to drink. I also found it a little hard when my son was born because my boyfriend only had 1 night off work so felt a little overwhelmed being here away from friends and family!" ( HT, Sep 2010)
"You have to get used to a different pace of life - children frustrated with not having internet quickly or general laid-back attitude, initially. After a year it became easier and now enjoying life here." (JW, April 10)
"I had my babies at Cinica Rotger - private hospital in the center of Palma. Epidural or nothing. On the birthing table lying down - no choice. The proud father to be sat in the waiting room reading the newspaper until the very last scream! Ante natal lessons all in local language - mallorquian - didn't understand a word. Had a nun try to teach me how to breast feed - what a laugh! Post natal a visit to the doc's!" (KN Dec 09))
"You will never be one of the local moms, no matter how much you want to fit in, you need to understand that you will always be different, and you are. The tendency for the “english kids” to be considered a separate entity is highly probable. Its no ones fault, you will just naturally congregate towards people who speak your own language" (LH, December 2011)
300 sunny days per annum, the vast array of outdoor activities and sporting activities available to everyone within a short distance. The importance of the family. The safety for the children and relative security" (MG, April 10)
"The greatest area in need of improvement, in my experience so far here, has to be in the postnatal care. It is usually assumed that you have family here to help, and you are pretty much left to it. " (NA, April 10)
I personally would feel embarrased if I didn’t speak the language so I learnt the language first to ensure that I could integrate fully with everyone otherwise you close your circles and don’t grow or fit in so .. I highly recommend that you learn the lingo!!
"Lily at 2 could hardly walk, was malnourished and had trust issues. The first time we saw her was lovely and it was Sunday the 3rd of May (mother’s day in Spain) and she was wearing a little pinafore and clips in her hair. The overwhelming feeling at that time was the helplessness at leaving behind all the other children…we just wanted to bring them all back! (SB)
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