Cantine or How School Lunch Should Be or How to Get 100 Pre-Schoolers to Sit Still

This has been a pretty amazing school year for the Mommacita so far. The littlest Duckling started at the Maternalle (the all-day French pre-school) and since I have been going to French class, all the Ducklings have been attending Cantine or school lunch. Now for any Americans out there you may be thinking big deal, everyone goes to school lunch, but here in France, your child only goes to Cantine, if you work, go to school, or can prove that for some reason,you are unable to pick up your little darlings at 11:30 and return them at 1:30. This is a very effective way to ensure that ones day is broken into two 3 hour blocks, neither of which is long enough to really accomplish anything.

So last year we began completing the copius paperwork to enroll all of the Ducklings in Cantine. Unfortunately, we did not complete it properly, or provide proof of my schooling. This led to us spending many hours rushing around, gathering paperwork so we could stand in line at the school district lunch offices and prove we were worthy enough that our children could attend Cantine. After returning once with our children's birth certificates (yes, birth certificates for lunch) we received approval for our children's lunch room education to begin, and begin it did.

I have always wondered how French families teach their children to behave in restaurants as they don't often take their children out. It turns out, they don't. The school teaches them to behave at the table. As the lunch break is 2 hours, the children have plenty of time to eat and still play. There are no tater tots and hotdogs here, the meal itself consists of 4 courses each of which is served by the lunch room wait staff. (I think this might be why the lunch ladies are always the first to take off on strike days) The first course, or entree (appetizer for you Americans) consists generally of a vegetable, beans or cucumber in a salad. Next, is the plat (main course) which is a meat and rice, potatoes or couscous, followed by a cheese course and then dessert. Dessert is usually a fruit, but can be anything from cake to ice cream. Fridays there is no meat served (Good Catholic country that France is) but eggs are sometimes offered instead of fish. All of this is served with baguette and water. The teachers and aides eat in the same room as the children with the children 6 to a table. There is no messing around tolerated at all.

What amazes me, is that my children like it. And especially for the littlest Duckling, they are trying new things that I could never get them to eat at home. The menu consists of fish, lamb, beef etc. It is varied and it is amazing. Every day the Ducklings return home and share their culinary adventures. They don't love everything but generally they try everything and that is a good thing. Yes, they would rather be home with me, but for now at least, I know that they are eating a nutritious lunch and are learning something in the process. The best part? Instead of being rushed like they would be in the U.S., they have time to go play and have fun after lunch. I think Cantine is something they will miss next year when return to the States. I am sure I will hear a lot about the noise and craziness of the US lunchroom as well as the fact that they are rushed and don't have an hour to play. Just one of the many differences we will be adjusting to next year I am sure. Oh well, it will be good to be back to a country that has a Target, and Starbucks, and Nordstrom and.....

Seen and Not Heard

In France, children should be seen and not heard. And they should be seen perfectly dressed, brushed and presented. My children apparently do not meet this standard. Although their hair is (usually) brushed, it is a rare occasion that they will allow hair accessories. And, as for dressing, I am afraid it is no better. Target casual does not fly in France. As a matter of fact, one of our neighbors brought us a catalog of children's clothing shortly after we moved here. The message I got, "your children do not look French enough." Another member of the French Mommy Brigade said last May, "it is finally warm enough for summer clothes." I said yes, but my girls were ready in February. "Yes," she replied, "I noticed." Yikes.


And, although dogs, also to be seen and not heard, are adored, allowed and welcomed everywhere, children are not. You will often see a dog at a restaurant, but rarely a child. And, it is even less likely that the restaurant will have any type of high chair. If you dare to bring a child to a restaurant, they had better behave. Recently, we went to our favorite "family" restaurant. One that actually has high chairs. We like it because one, it is a buffet, and two, kids eat free, a great deal for us. Unfortunately, on this particular day, the little blond duckling had the dropsies. Not 10 seconds into the buffet line she dropped her plate, 30 seconds later, she spilled ALL her food on the floor. Two minutes after that we were informed of a change in the kids eat free policy. It only applies if there is an equivalent adult. So, we would have to pay for two of the kids. Perfectly fair under the circumstances, but I think if a dog had dropped the food, all would have been forgiven.