‘Oh my God!’ I shriek as I flick through the TV channels and land on M6’s new reality show, its name displayed in the bottom corner of the screen with the ‘M’ of maman transformed into a girly pink heart. ‘This is totally my core subject for book2, I have to watch this, however dreadful it is…’ The Boy is washing up in our open plan kitchen, an undertaking which seems to involve more clanging and splashing and running of taps than is strictly necessary. I crank up the TV’s volume and reach for my laptop, curious to read about the ‘concept’ of the show.
‘Elles sont actives, dynamiques, autonomes … et mamans célibataires,’ reads the show’s blurb. So far, so good. Dynamic, independent working women, who are also single mums. I approve of the choice of positive adjectives and the word order of the sentences, which places their relationship status and motherhood last.
There are 1.76 million monoparental families in France, according to the INSEE statistics quoted by the programme’s producers. 85% of these families are headed up by a single mother. ‘But in a daily life whose rhythm is dictated by their work, their children and all the occupations of a single mother they have little time to devote to searching for their ideal man…’ I ponder for a moment what ‘all the occupations of a single mother’ might mean, trying to imagine what these tasks which are not work or childcare related might be, but draw a blank. Hopefully the show itself will enlighten me. Although I do hope the cameras won’t be allowed to peer inside the ladies’ bedside cabinets to contemplate their Rampant Rabbit collections.
Episode one introduces us to Caroline, Marie and Carine who are shown preparing meals for their children, driving them to school and contemplating their towering ironing piles with varying degrees of despair. It’s when they are asked to describe what they are looking for that I begin to want to throw things at the television screen. Pale, blonde and dreamy looking Marie professes to be looking for her own ‘modern fairy tale’. Short-haired brunette Caroline would like to meet her very own Mr Big. Heavily made-up Carine (whom The Boy immediately refers to as la cagole, and whose online profile describes her as having previously lived a life of luxury similar to Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives) has simple needs: a man with the charm of Sean Connery or Robert De Niro, with a touch of Nicholas Cage.
The phrases ‘prince charmant‘ or ‘Knight in white armour’ aren’t actually bandied about, but they might as well be. The assumption is definitely that each is looking for a Mr Right and hoping to build something ‘serious’ and ‘durable’.
‘They should concentrate on just finding a guy they have some chemistry with, not obsessing about how it has to be du sérieux right from the outset,’ I say, half to The Boy, who has now joined me on the sofa, and half to the TV screen. ‘You don’t go into anything knowing what the outcome’s going to be. You start off casual. Otherwise it’s doomed in advance.’ I think back to when we met, in May 2007. We definitely started off casual. I didn’t take The Boy very seriously at all in the beginning. He was five years younger than me for a start. And I was hung up on someone else.
‘Of course,’ The Boy nods. ‘But, having said that, most of the girls on the online dating site where we met said they were looking for a prince charming. It wasn’t always true, in practise, but that’s definitely what they were telling themselves…’ I shoot him a sideways glance. I suspect The Boy was as guilty as the next guy of pretending to be a prince for an hour or two in order to charm his way into their lace underwear at the end of their first date but, as they say, ignorance is bliss.
Whatever their real aspirations and motivations (aside from wanting to become D-list celebs for fifteen minutes) the mamans are somewhat unlikely to find love in the reality TV show context, where their every word and movement is, no doubt, scripted in advance. The heavily edited version of events the audience will be presented with each week won’t exactly be trustworthy either. The whole thing is little more than a farce, entertaining and excruciating in equal measures.
In the first episode, for example, each maman hosted a picnic/barbecue to which ten hopeful suitors from all four corners of France (and a film crew) were invited. Not the most natural of dating situations, in my humble opinion, and it was moderately painful to watch the candidates compete for the attention of the mums, flirting outrageously, in some cases, in order to stand out from the crowd.
It soon became clear that the format was going to be reminiscent of ‘The Bachelor’. After a single day on their group date, peppered with a few brief tête-à-tête moments, the women were already being instructed to throw out three candidates. I couldn’t help thinking that in the real world, some of the men would have withdrawn themselves from the running spontaneously, but this did not happen. Clearly every male interviewed was in this competition to win, on principle, or failing that, to spend as much time in front of the TV cameras as possible.
I don’t know if will be able to bear to tune in for future episodes, but the mind boggles. Will the men be introduced to the women’s kids at some stage? Will they – in the case of the divorcees with kids – bring their own along? If a winner is selected who lives at the opposite end of the country, how will the logistics work? And, more importantly, will there be any more traditional Breton dancing? Or perhaps a trial by ironing?
The Boy’s suggestion – that the women simply audition their ten chosen men in the bedroom – earned him a withering stare. My tirade about how these poor, misguided women were likely to find that kissing Prince Charming will probably only mean they wind up with an extra mouth to feed and an even more voluminous ironing pile did not amuse The Boy, either, as he thought I might be implying he didn’t pull his weight in matters domestic.
But I rather liked The Boy’s suggestion for an alternative title for the show. It would make a fantastic French title for book two, if such a thing ever comes to pass.
about
books
press
fbk
petite anglaise 
It’s fun to have another view into your world. Reality t.v.bites, but I have a twisted need to watch Housewives of Atlanta when home in the U.S.
Despicable women for the most part–almost cartoonish. Especially Kim and NeNe. Kim has a sugar daddy, Big Poppa, who wisely refuses to be filmed as part of the show. NeNe is stereotypically big mouthed, big-butted, and angry.
These characters constantly refer to themselves as high society–which of course guarantees that they are anything but…
Prior to Atlanta, we had HW’s of Orange County (California) and NYC. Without exception, these women are blinged-out b—–s. One in NYC insisted on being referred to as “Countess” and personally referred to her husband as “the Count.”
See if French t.v. can top this dreck. Yet, I watch…
Comment by Marielle — November 27, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
Brilliant book title! Insist that it appears only in French, even in foreign language editions. Could spread as widely as ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’!
But “Maman cherche l’amour”… what can I say.
“Ne dit pas a ma mère que je travail dans le télé, elle pense que je suis pianiste dans une bordelle!” to parapharase Seguéla.
Comment by Macthomson — November 27, 2008 @ 1:48 pm
Is it enough just to want some fun, to reclaim a little of yourself, and maybe, just maybe find some who loves you and your child as much as you love them.
I hope so, sounds like I don’t wear enough make up for reality TV!
Comment by surprised mum — November 27, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
The Boy’s title is hilarious. But I wonder how your English-speaking readers will figure that one out…
Comment by ontario frog — November 27, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
You obviously missed a very high point in French TV earlier this year “L’amour est dans le pré” – imagine the same things but instead of single mothers single farmers with cows, sheep . . . and combine harvesters.
Comment by Pauline — November 27, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
I (unfortunately) watched that show as well Tuesday night, and all’s it did was remind me of a female version of “l’amour est dans le pré” – another M6 show of equal cinematic quality.
Comment by ksam — November 27, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
I can’t believe you guys only met in May 2007. Wow. Totally agree about going into something casual though, although I blame shows like that and the media for this expectation of Mr Right. Every person’s Mr Right is different. They won’t know that until they finally meet him and what they thought they wanted doesn’t seem so important but everything that he is, is all they want.
Comment by L.C.T. — November 27, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Nique SA mère
pff you never listen to me … ever
what am I going to do with you …
Comment by The boy — November 27, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Please explain for those of us whose French is sorely lacking!
Comment by Cath — November 27, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
So many women looking for love, and so many don’t really know what they are looking for and how they can find it.
Looking for Prince Charming is not the same as looking for love. Having a competition is not the best method either.
Every woman should get her daughters to watch Shrek for some sound education in love and romance!
Comment by Yaya — November 27, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Don’t you just love the way M6 solves everybody’s problems with reality shows? You can’t find a new flat? Try “Cherche appartement ou maison”. A lonely farmer looking for romance? “L’amour est dans le pré”. Need to do up your flat? “D&Co” Problems with your kids?”Supernanny”. The list is endless.
If you ever get writer’s block, petite, you should ring them – they’re bound to have some programme lined up to help out struggling authors – “Délire et écrire”, maybe?
Comment by suziboo — November 27, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
I watched this on Tuesday night and both my other half and I really enjoyed it (partly because we’re now just about proficient enough with the french to understand it all!)
Maybe we’re just too naive (or missed bits, equally likely), but I did get the impression that all 3 mothers were aware of the downsides of ‘doing it on TV’ and (less so la cagole) seemed grounded enough to look at it realistically.
Also just wanted to clarify though, that we did the sums as it went through and I’m pretty sure that a few men did drop out through their own doing on the way (for instance Caroline had 12 to her lunch, kept 7 and remember there was only the poor chap who couldnt open a bottle of wine left at the table after she’d made her choices).
(Also, not for the public comments, but well done on everything – I’ve followed the blog since you were still with Mr Frog, and I was living in London, and read the book after I’d been living in Paris for 6 months. Hope the next one goes well for you too.)
Comment by Noni — November 27, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
Ah, Petite. It is always so worthwhile when I copy the French text in your posts to Babelfish. :)
Comment by Jen M — November 27, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
@9: This should help:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nique%20ta%20mere
Comment by ontario frog — November 27, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
@ The Boy: Actually, “nique ma mère” is an improvement over “nique sa mère”. It is even more cynical, don’t you think ?
C’était ma contribution du jour à la paix des ménages ;-)
Comment by ontario frog — November 27, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Please please translate it – whichever version….
and I agree about Shrek – fought watching it for a long time because it was a cartoon and people would keep telling me of the use of my name, but now I am proud to be linked to Princess Fiona!
Cheers from New Zealand
Comment by Fiona — November 27, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Wow…and I thought all the *good* reality TV was in the U.S.
Comment by unbalanced reaction — November 28, 2008 @ 12:42 am
I loved the Cinderella Movie “Ever After” (I think that was the title) with Drew Barrymore. At the end, after Cinderella had saved herself, the prince showed up to gallantly save the day, but she just looked at him & said, “what are you doing here?” After all, the job was already done. Men are luxuries, not necessities.
Comment by QldDeb — November 28, 2008 @ 7:41 am
lol – so much so that I’ve awoken The Grouch on his day off – whoops.
The Boy’s washing up sounds like my mother’s. I understood the clattering when I still lived at home i.e. she did the cooking and shouldn’t be having to wash up too, but not when she’s visiting us. She has another lovely trick of ALWAYs, but ALWAYS breaking something, and often cutting her finger on said breakage for good measure. Apologies if I’m giving The Boy ideas, but to my mind he deserves a kiss. As do you, of course.
j
Comment by j — November 28, 2008 @ 10:26 am
You will not know if it was the right one until you exhaust your last breathe! The level of long term contentment and mutual acceptance is key here, not the immediate lust and sparkle. “A relationship is for life … not just the shagfest!”
Comment by Jester — November 28, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Solemnly agree with Jester and Shrek. Mutual lust is not enough, even if it’s karumba barumba. Real love that lasts is more about mutual respect, interests in common, mutual values, boring stuff like that. ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’ doesn’t cover it. Love means sticking it out when the going gets tough, more like.
Blimey, and I’ve only had one glass of wine.
Comment by Susie Vereker — November 28, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
Forgot to mention mutual sense of humour – that’s crucial!
Comment by Susie Vereker — November 28, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
I thought book two was already just done.
Comment by Sheila K. — November 28, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
#13 – Google Language Tools is so much better. http://www.google.com/language_tools
And Petite, do not pretend you don’t know if you “will be able to bear to tune in for future episodes.” You know you’re going to watch every episode. Reality shows are so addictive (having a fly-on-the-wall view into the life of a real person) that we cannot look away – sort of like reading someone else’s blog.
I am proud to say I have never watched “Survivor”, or “The Apprentice”, or “The Batchelor”, or… but I am currently addicted to “Stylista.” I think it’s all the eye scratching that is so fun.
Comment by Zoe — November 28, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Oh, BTW, this post now makes me look forward to book #2 even more!
Comment by Zoe — November 28, 2008 @ 9:10 pm
Just a thought. Would you have written “f**k my mother” as a title to one of your post?
I always found when I was living in England that I had no trouble swearing in a foreign language (saying the F… word would be no problem), but that I couldn’t bring myself to use the equivalent in French, my mother-tongue (such as “enc*lé”, for instance”, which I can’t say outloud, at least not without an effort).
Anyway, that was my though when I read the title of your post and was a little bit shocked/ surprised by it!
Comment by Celine — November 28, 2008 @ 9:55 pm
There is an english term similiaar to the potential book name that the young boys (early twenties) bandy about at work – MILF. Mothers I’d like to F……
Well you get the idea!
Comment by Jessica — November 28, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Hi there! I nearly finished your book. My mother gave it to me as a gift, she thought I would like it and I do. I must say that I’d never heard of you before I received this gift and therefore had never been on your blog. Untill today. Who is The Boy, I wonder…? I will have to go back in the archives I guess. Well, thank you for writing such a fun book, greetings from a Dutch woman/working mom who lives in the French part of Belgium.
Comment by Lisa — November 28, 2008 @ 11:54 pm
This is why I don’t watch TV.
Comment by passante — November 29, 2008 @ 12:15 am
I’m not really interested in the subject, but the headline worries me.
“Nique sa mere” indeed. Most Bi-lingual Brits abhor the French use of English profanities. Do they hope people will think they are “cool” – the French “cool” not the English. We’ve had the movie “Fucking Fernand” and Coolio did a TV spot for a Swiss mineral water, “a mother-fucking water”. My neighbours take pride in driving around our very well heeled community in a 4×4 with “A Friendly Fucking Family” painted across the back window. “Fuck” seems to be the only word in the English language known to graffiti artists worldwide. Googling, I find “Nique Sa Mere” was a minimal success by the French rap singer Kennedy and “Nique Sa Mere” is also the title of a what looks like a particularly ugly porno movie.
Not at all things we associate with sweet P’tite. So why use French vulgarity? You don’t need it dear, please stop, after all, we don’t want to descend to their level do we?
http://www.ghinch.com
Comment by Ghinch — November 29, 2008 @ 9:59 am
The reference is supposed to be (and would have been if, as the Boy points out, I hadn’t changed it slightly) a clin d’oeil to well known French rappers ‘NTM’ (Nique ta mère), not to a porn film.
As their wikipedia page states, it’s a phrase which has become so banal in French that when someone uses it, often in jest, there is no real thought for the literal meaning.
I think you have a point though, that it’s easier to swear in a foreign language without necessarily feeling it’s quite so naughty.
Comment by petite — November 29, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
I thought it was a funny alternative title, and I thought it was a bit of a play on words, since the women had to audition by pique-nique. I wish we could see the programme here in England.
Comment by Fanny — November 29, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Tit for tat … spin offs … either it is farmers looking for wifes or singel mums looking for a man in thier life and hopefully love (Scandinavian version)or Joe the millionaire (USA) etc. It isn´t easy to find the right partner. This is just another way, a very public way of finding someone. Another aspect is that these women will also reach more guys. It is the best advertisement ever and they will reach a wider audience than if they used an online dating service like Meetic.
By just being open about their situation and what they want does not make any of them a cagole.
Comment by Ellen — November 29, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Hello!
I was just wondering how the 2nd book is coming along… do you have a date for publication?
Comment by Sally — November 29, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
hey petite, interesting post! i just wanted to add that i wasnt shocked by the title and i immediately though of NTM, and was slightly smug with myself for that, having been in france only 3 months :D
x
Comment by Mikki — November 29, 2008 @ 9:52 pm
#31 (Petite): “it’s easier to swear in a foreign language without necessarily feeling it’s quite so naughty”
Exactly so. I was trying to explain that to someone the other day. What is pretty nasty in my native language (English), is not much more than a word for me in French or Italian. I’m aware it’s a bad French or Italian word, but saying or hearing it doesn’t have the effect that saying or hearing it in English would.
“a phrase which has become so banal in French that when someone uses it, often in jest, there is no real thought for the literal meaning”
Yes, when I hear someone of nine or 65 say “that really sucks” I have that reaction. It used to be a very vulgar expression. Now it’s almost meaningless.
Just goes to show: They are only words.
Comment by passante — November 29, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
For the same reason, it is relatively easy for the French to use the term “nique” because it is not originally a French word, but an Arabic one.
I also remember making frequent use of “fuck” just because it did not feel as bad as most French swear words. I grew out of it after spending some time abroad and starting to pay more attention to language levels in English.
Comment by ontario frog — November 30, 2008 @ 4:21 am
Has Jonathan Ross had input here?
Comment by Tim — November 30, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
I saw this and my apartment wasn’t big enough for me to run away… NTM haha
Comment by magillicuddy — November 30, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
For comment N°2 -‘un bordel’ -unless you are being politically correct.
Comment by Skip D.Sc — November 30, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
Niquer :
(Verbe 1) Dérivé de « nique », de par la locution « faire la nique », avec la désinence -er.
(Verbe 2) De l’arabe populaire نك, nik (« faire l’amour »), ou de نكاح, nikāḥ (« coït »). Il est lui même d’origine française : derivé abrégé de forniquer. Mot d’argot militaire dans les colonies françaises à la fin du XIXe siècle, il a donné naissance à l’argot arabe en Algérie, puis par la culture populaire (notamment la chanson) dans le reste des pays de dialecte arabe.
There seems to be quite an imbroglio going on :
1) the title of your post is “nique MA mère”
2) the vulgar slang expression is “nique TA mère” (from which the rap group from Marseilles took its name)
3) the title really suggested by the boy is “nique SA mère” (F… HIS/HER mother)
Comment by Boris — November 30, 2008 @ 9:30 pm
Why not have a reality show about MILFs? It should be “amusant” to say the least!
Comment by ManhattanManhunter — December 1, 2008 @ 1:43 am
Second title is brilliant. I am amazed that this show – or some variation thereof – hasn’t made it over to the US yet. You’d assume we’d be the first ones all over that idea. Hmmm…
I completely agree with you on starting off casually. Best things always take time. (my god, did that just come out of my mouth?)
Comment by Mademoiselle Non — December 1, 2008 @ 4:10 am
And I just wondered why the boy was using slang from Marseille and referencing hip-hop from Paris. I think the joke can be understood with a reasonable knowledge of French pop culture.
Comment by Kathryn — December 1, 2008 @ 9:26 pm
Hi Petite,
Would you like to submit your best blog post to the Best of British Mummy Bloggers Carnival?
Details are at the URL I’ve submitted.
Cheers,
Anna
Comment by Anna Colette — December 1, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Ah yes – Nique (or Nik) – I learned about that particular Arabic swear word when working in an Arab village as as a young, and rather green, TEFL teacher. At first I thought the local boys were just being friendly when they took to calling out my name with great enthusisam as I walked to school each morning, although felt a bit bad that my colleague, Caroline, didn’t seem to be getting the same attention. I was a bit perplexed as to why the local school teachers and the family I was living with, were so insistent on referring to me by my full name of Nicola, rather than my preferred shortened version. It took a few weeks before someone had the courage to break the news to me…
Comment by Nikki — December 1, 2008 @ 11:33 pm
The 1958 movie “The Robe” starring Richard Burton and Victor Mature caused amusement in France and unrivalled hilarity in North Africa when the posters went up announcing “La Tunique”
http://www.ghinch.com
Comment by Ghinch — December 2, 2008 @ 9:36 am
In France you can watch the show (again) on http://www.m6replay.fr/
I don’t know if this will work outside of France
Comment by Timide — December 2, 2008 @ 2:01 pm
They’re meeting the kids this week so that the kids can deliver the boy’s instructions! In Germany this kind of this is called ‘unterklassen tv’ – I was thoroughly told off by a German colleague for watching Bauer sucht Frau, which is the German version of L’amour est dans le pres….you can probably imagine how hilarious the German version of farmers courting was. Breton dancing has nothing on that – all those lederhosen, sausages and tractor driving women…..
Comment by Lindsay — December 3, 2008 @ 10:27 am
So, did you watch it last night ?
Comment by christine — December 3, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Hmm not keen on the title. Couldn’t read all of the post – it was so long! – but sounds interesting. I am also a ‘monoparent’ as you put it. Not heard it said like that before!
Comment by lynn — December 4, 2008 @ 1:32 am
Bored Bored Bored. You’re so self obsessed it’s ridiculous.
Comment by nobby — December 6, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Just dropped by to catch up a little , Hello !
==Alaska
Comment by ==Alaska — December 7, 2008 @ 12:10 am
Reality TV is in full swing back here in the States, where Reality equals= yeah, not so much.
Comment by BOSSY — December 8, 2008 @ 3:54 am
Nobby must indeed be very bored if he’s spending his time reading blogs by people he dislikes so intensely!
Comment by petitebête — December 8, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
I just thought I’d post again because I’m a little surprised by a couple of the comments here…
who exactly is self obsessed? If that’s supposed to mean Petite then shouldn’t it be remembered that this is a blog about her life…
also, I’m a little surprised that if someone couldn’t even read the whole post, why would they bother to comment negatively on it??
Keep up Petite :D I still check for new posts regularly!
Comment by Mikki — December 8, 2008 @ 6:25 pm
“Kiffe ma mère” is already the French title for the US import – Date my Mom – see http://www.mtv.fr/mtv.fr/jhtml/mtv/MaEmissionsDisplay.jhtml?showid=132.
If she’s read this, your mum will note that you’ve started nagging again – bitching that your boy jester doesn’t pull his weight domestically, doesn’t wash the dishes quietly (even after he’s made you dinner), hasn’t done the ironing while you watch a pathetic show that you’ve chosen because it’s YOUR finger on the remote button.
You could at least buy the poor drudge a (quiet) dishwashing machine for Christmas.
Comment by Parkin pig — December 9, 2008 @ 1:03 pm
Just checked back and found you already told us your new flat came complete with a dishwasher. I presume the boy doesn’t use it because it’s broken or for ‘green’ reasons or because it’s too damn noisy.
Comment by Parkin pig — December 9, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
I finished your book and have been spending a couple of nights reading your blog to know what you’re up to. You’re married! Wonderful, congratulations (well, you don’t know me, but I guess you’re used to comments from complete strangers)
Could I throw some ‘garden-psychology’ into this thread? To explain why you don’t feel like blogging anymore? I think it’s quite simple ; ) You started blogging when you were unhappy and bored. You’re not unhappy and bored anymore and don’t feel the need to share your stories with the ‘world’. Well, that was it for now, hope to read from you soon.
Comment by Lisa — December 9, 2008 @ 11:16 pm
Oooh I love the alternative title! I watched an episode some days ago, it must have been the next one because the kids were somehow involved. I think all those shows are too much alike!
Comment by SwissBarb — December 10, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
To # 55 & 56 – Please don’t feed the troll
thanks ;)
Comment by The Boy — December 11, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Here on Belgium television the format already exists for some years. The best story was when came out that one of the mums ran away with the cameraman. That just seemed like a fairy tale to me and it illustrates that love can be found everywhere, even on the set of such a ‘light’ program… ;)
Comment by dame blanche — December 11, 2008 @ 1:43 pm
When I open “comments for petite anglaise” in my bloglines, I currently see “Comment on nique ma mère”, which I tend to read as a complete French sentence, and frankly, je ne veux pas savoir…
Comment by Véronique — December 11, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
Where are you, Petite?
Comment by Sheila K. — December 12, 2008 @ 7:02 am
Hi. Just a quick note to say that something weird happened to your blog… In the archives, from May 2007 to Sept 2007, the pages won’t display. Well, they do, but in some unknown outerspace language…
Comment by Laralo — December 12, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
Hi !
I’ve never left a comment on your blog even though I’ve been following it for over a year and that I’ve been throug your entire blog. And I also got a autograph from you last summer in Paris. But today is “Operation: Comment Your Balls/Boobs Off!” on Dad Gone Mad (www.dadgonemad.com) so I’ve decided to “de-lurke” as he puts it.
So here I am, juste to say that I love your blog and your may of writting.
Keep it up !!
Just an other fan
Comment by AlexClio — December 13, 2008 @ 5:47 pm
And it also gives you a title for the sequel – “Et ta soeur!”
Comment by Autolycus — December 13, 2008 @ 10:53 pm
Sounds like a show that was on here called Must Love Kids which was so boring that the channel moved it from evening to afternoon. Tedious, dreary dates with three nervy women. There was not enough tension in it like on other reality shows where contestants are eliminated.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Must-Love-Kids.html
Comment by EmmaK — December 15, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
Ah1 The Boy’s finished washing up at last.
Comment by gonzales — December 16, 2008 @ 11:18 pm
Petite! You’re killing me! Update!
BTW, read the book. You did a great job!
Comment by Jessie — December 17, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
I think you’ve abandoned your blog
Comment by stavroulix — December 18, 2008 @ 11:29 am
Hello! I just read your book and I liked it so much. I liked even more when I googled you and found out you are still writing your blog. It is so exciting! I’ll read closely EVERYTHING and find out how are you doing nowadays. Your example encouraged me to write my own blog about infertility.
Best wishes.
Comment by gal from Finland — December 18, 2008 @ 8:28 pm
I keep clicking on your blog and there’s hardly ever a new contribution. My patience has run out. Was nice reading you.
Comment by Eccles Cake — December 22, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I miss your writing.
Comment by Nataliya — December 23, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
I’ve just read your 1st book, which meant the night before last I was up until some stupid hour of the morning reading your blog to catch up LOL.
You’ve not posted in a while, I hope all is well.
from yet another fan (keep writing please)
Comment by Tatty — December 23, 2008 @ 5:51 pm
Hey Petite,
It’s been a month, are you all right ?
Hope you’re just relaxing and having a great christmas.
Cheers,
Comment by walken — December 24, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I just read your book and then searched up this blog. It’s all so… unreal to think that there is a real person who lived through all the events in the book, that I read about her, that I just saw her on youtube… haha, very strange for me. But I think it was a great book and your little girl sounds wonnnnderful! The book makes me want to visit Paris again, to get out of high school and travel in Europe…
Comment by Sailing away — January 27, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
Hey Petite,
Have you seen the TV reality Super Nanny? I think they took it from an English idea. In any case I don’t have kids but sure as hell when i watch this show it convinces me ! I bet Tadpole has no problems like these monster children!
Comment by princess — February 10, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
My french is a bit rusty, but I enjoyed this :)
Comment by http://homedecoratingideas.goodadvicetips.com — March 4, 2009 @ 11:22 pm