Coming Soon: Bilingual Family Profiles

February 06, 2014 by Michele Cherie in French Language Learning, French Resources, Reflections on Parenting

Don't you find bilingual families fascinating? I plan to feature a bilingual or multilingual family once per month here at Intentional Mama because we have so much to learn from their experience. Families with French as their minority language will be the focus, but Spanish and other languages will find a place here too.

Here's where you come in, dear readers: First, if you or anyone you know might be willing to be featured, please leave a message for me below or email me at michele@intentionalmama.com. I know people can be leery of sharing information online, so I can definitely leave out names and locations if that's a concern.

Second, what questions would you like to ask parents who are raising bilingual children? What are your doubts and concerns? What resources or information would you love to find?

10 Things I Learned from Tsh Oxenreider's New Book

February 04, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections, Contentment, Learning Resources

One of my favorite non-fiction writers, Tsh Oxenreider, released a new book today: Notes From A Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World. A few weeks ago I received an advance copy to review, and the book was a fascinating read. (I responded by sharing my path to an intentional life here.) Here are ten points I gleaned from Tsh in her latest book:

Making Crêpes on La Chandeleur or Valentine's Day

February 03, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Cultural Reflections, Teaching French, Home Management

In America, yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday and Groundhog Day; In France, Belgium, and Switzerland, yesterday was La Chandeleur and people there ate crêpes for dinner and dessert. (In Mexico, they ate tamales.) La Chandeleur is a holiday that celebrates light and the dedication of the infant Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2 in the Bible) and it takes place forty days after Christmas--February 2nd. Crêpes' round shape and golden color are a reminder that spring sunshine is near.

If you've never made a crêpe, I'll show you how. We enjoy crêpes for breakfast at least once every two weeks! And they would be a lovely way to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Living Intentionally in an Indulgent Culture: Notes From A Blue Bike

January 30, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Cultural Reflections, Home Management, Learning Resources, Reflections on Parenting

Have you ever returned from a trip with a desire to live differently? International travel in particular is a catalyst for life change. It provides a view of life rearranged, of priorities and resources altogether different from those at home.

I was blessed to be able to study and travel abroad frequently in my twenties. In Sri Lanka, I observed women sewing shirts priced higher than their annual salary. In Jordan, a family prepared me a meal so savory and generous that my stomach will never be so full again. In France, I grew accustomed to a life in balance, where Sundays for most families consisted of a noontime meal, a nap, leisure time outdoors, and a quality movie on national television.

Le temps de pénitence: Remembering the Swiftness of Time

January 29, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Contentment, Teaching French

As a young teacher I once invited members of a pétanque club to teach my students how to play their sport (a bowling game similar to bocce). One of the two members who came was an elderly Swiss man who gave me an envelope containing two poems he'd typed. We never met again before his death, but I cherish his gift. When I think of the importance of intentional living, I remember this poem written by René Seghetini:

Reading List for 2014: Classics & New Reads for Intentional Living

January 27, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Learning Resources

I'm a voracious reader, though as a mama of little ones, my reading moments occur in brief snippets at late hours. Because of these time limits, here are the books that I want to prioritize this year:

Living Without Manufactured Beauty Products & Toiletries: How?

January 24, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Home Management

I am not a professional model nor a hippie, but I manage to go makeup-free and stick to a bare-bones personal care routine without becoming a eyesore. I stopped wearing makeup shortly after my daughter was born--I didn't want her eating my lipstick (as my little sister had), but mostly I wanted her to grow up believing that her natural beauty could shine just as well without makeup. And minus makeup, I soon discovered that I no longer needed facial cleanser or moisturizer. (I do feel that it's a kindness to others to be easy on the eyes, so I still use tinted lip balm and mascara more often than not.)

With that simplified personal care routine, I've had time enough to learn how to make make the few personal care products I still use:

Hug A Farmer, Share Their Bounty: Join a CSA This Year

January 22, 2014 by Michele Cherie in Reflections on Parenting, Home Management

Whether you'd like to be a more frugal foodie or if you'd simply prefer fewer trips to the grocery store, there's a solution that you'll love: find a local farm to support, and in return you can take home a weekly share of the harvest. My family joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program four years ago, and now we associate summer with delightful weekly visits to our farm. (It feels a bit like having a zoo membership, due to the animals we get to observe and feed!)

I'm so grateful that my children will grow up with memories of a family farm and an awareness of where their vegetables are grown (besides those from our small backyard garden). And how long would it have taken otherwise for my four-year old daughter to have discovered that she loves artichokes?