u/Wilderpalicious

My husband and I are raising our 11-month-old using OPOL (I speak Italian, he speaks German, and she hears French at nursery). We both care a lot about giving her a strong foundation in our respective languages.

The problem is that I feel we’ve unintentionally started competing.

I find myself worrying that I need to maximise every opportunity to speak Italian to her, and I think he feels the same about German. When we’re all together, instead of naturally interacting as a family, we often end up speaking to the baby separately. Sometimes we even talk over each other (not intentionally) because we’re both so focused on making sure we’re talking to her in our own language.

It’s started to feel like we’re each trying to “win” our daughter’s attention, trust, or preference, even though I know neither of us consciously wants that. I hate admitting it, but sometimes I catch myself feeling jealous if she seems more engaged with him, and I wonder if he feels the same.

To be fair, I don’t think bilingualism is the only issue. We’re probably both sleep deprived, we have an 11-month-old, we rarely get time together as a couple.

But I do feel that the pressure we both put on ourselves around language is making everything worse.

Has anyone else experienced this? Did OPOL ever make you feel like you and your partner were competing rather than working as a team? How did you get back to enjoying family interactions instead of constantly thinking about “language exposure”?

I’d also love to hear from families whose children are now older. Looking back, did you realise you were worrying far more than necessary?

Hi all, I’m looking into Montessori kindergartens and schools for my kid. But HEY the fees are over the roof, and beyond any possible budget readjustment for my family. So I just want to ask…are people just so rich here, or is there some kind of scholarships/ state support that I’m not aware of?

So I find myself reaching for my phone constantly because it’s also my camera, and then I get distracted by notifications or apps. I’d love a compact camera that produces noticeably nicer photos than a phone, makes photography feel more intentional, but still lets me transfer images to my phone without too much hassle. I don’t mind buying an older premium compact if it offers better value than a new budget camera.

Budget: 400€
Country: EU/ Belgium
Condition: Prefer used (happy to buy from MPB or similar reputable used dealers)
Type of Camera: Compact digital camera (fixed lens)
Intended use: Photography
If photography; what style: Mainly family photography. I have a baby and want to capture everyday moments, indoors and outdoors, holidays, walks, gatherings with family and friends. Not interested in wildlife or sports.
If video what style: Occasional short family videos, but photos are the priority.
What features do you absolutely need: Excellent image quality for the price, good performance indoors/in lower light, reliable autofocus for a moving baby, easy to use in Auto mode, and the ability to transfer photos wirelessly to my iPhone for sharing with family.
Portability: Very important. I want something genuinely pocketable or small enough to carry everywhere, otherwise I know I won’t use it.
Cameras you’re considering: Sony RX100 (I/II/III), Canon G9 X Mark II, Canon G7 X Mark II (if I can find one within budget).
Cameras you already have: iPhone (my main camera at the moment).
Notes: My main motivation is actually to reduce my phone use around my baby. I find myself reaching for my phone constantly because it’s also my camera, and then I get distracted by notifications or apps. I’d love a compact camera that produces noticeably nicer photos than a phone, makes photography feel more intentional, but still lets me transfer images to my phone without too much hassle. I don’t mind buying an older premium compact if it offers better value than a new budget camera.

What would you recommend? Thank you!

Hello, veniamo a Torino con la mia famiglia e bimba di 10 mesi la settimana prossima. La bimba non cammina ancora ma gattona e si arrampica ovunque, e dopo un po di tempo nel passeggino ha bisogno di muoversi. Le pause nei bar o nei ristoranti sono complicate, se non c’è uno spazio dedicato. Non serve molto (un tappetone e qualche cubetto sono abbastanza), ma quando ho cercato online ho trovato solo bar e ristoranti con spazi dedicati a bimbi molto più grandi (gonfiabili, muri di arrampicata, eccetera). Avete consigli? Staremo vicino a Porta Nuova ma possiamo muoverci. Ci piacciono molto anche le librerie! (E i parchi, ma visto le temperature previste, temo che dovremo evitarli). Grazie!

Hello, as for many of you we dont have AC in our apartment but now the nursery of my 1 year old decided its too hot for babies there and asked to keep them home. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re now heading to a shopping mall (I took the morning off and in the afternoon my husband) but are there any other good places you can recommend? We’re close to Montgomery roundabout. I’d love a cafe with a kids area but I cannot find any (other than pause and play in Bailli). The library here is open from 4pm but also I guess it won’t be fresh. Any advice, with a baby? The apartment gets easily 30+ degrees so we’re already scared of bedtime this evening

Hi everyone,
My partner and I are considering buying an apartment in Brussels, but we don’t know anyone in the renovation/construction world and would love recommendations.

We are looking for an independent expert (architect, building expert, surveyor, renovation consultant, etc.) who could come visit the apartment with us before purchase and give us a realistic estimate of renovation costs.

The idea would be to assess things like:
windows
wooden floors/parquet
kitchen renovation
painting
electricity/plumbing
possible hidden issues
overall renovation budget ranges

We mainly want someone trustworthy and experienced who can help us understand the real costs and avoid unpleasant surprises — and ideally help us negotiate the purchase price with credible estimates.

If you’ve had a good experience with someone in Brussels, I’d be very grateful for recommendations (or warnings about who to avoid 😅).

Thanks a lot!