Astrid, curiosité et plaisirs simples

Did this difficult experience have an impact on your two other pregnancies? 
Oui bien évidemment. 
DYes, of course. First of all, medically, the follow-up was much more thorough (fetal cardiac ultrasounds, monthly scans, etc.), even though a genetic cause had been ruled out. I was far more anxious than during my pregnancy with Blanche, especially before the cardiac examinations and the second-trimester ultrasound, which rule out the risk of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Even though we know that certain conditions or malformations exist, there’s always this “naive” feeling that it only happens to others. I no longer had that lightness during my subsequent pregnancies — especially since my last one was classified as a “geriatric pregnancy,” as I was over 35. That said, I truly enjoyed the final trimesters, and especially the one with my youngest, as I felt good physically and really wanted to savor our last moments as a family of three.

Would you say that motherhood has changed your perception of life? 
I wouldn’t say that my perception of life changed with the arrival of children, but rather the way I live it. Everything is organized around their well-being and what we want to pass on to them - we always come after them. It can sometimes be frustrating when it comes to our own desires, but I’ve learned to appreciate simpler pleasures. For example, Friday night movie-and-pizza evenings at home have become my favorite, whereas when I was younger I felt like I was missing out if I didn’t go out for a drink. We’re lucky to live in an extraordinary environment that truly fulfills us, and as long as I have a bit of time to release tension through sports, I feel good. The only thing I might miss is not having had a night or a weekend alone with my partner in the past seven years - but we do spend a lot of time together during the day, and I know it will be possible again when the kids are older.

What values would you like to pass on to your boys?
Curiosity is the foundation of everything: wanting to discover the world, others, and having the desire to learn is a powerful antidote to ignorance - which is often the root of fear, rejection and conflict. Being tolerant and open to others is essential, even if at their age it’s still a bit difficult to step outside of themselves. That’s also why I find travel so valuable for them at this age: it shows them that the world is much bigger than their own bubble and exposes them to all kinds of situations that nurture dialogue and exchange..

Your favorite moment of the day?  I would say the morning - the promise of dawn. The day is still unwritten, fatigue feels lighter, the colors are soft and the cuddles are warm. I’m always more anxious in the evening.

A mantra ?
This too shall pass. The best as well as the worst. Let’s savor the good moments -they won’t last forever, just like the difficult ones.

Your favorite Minois product?
The bath foam! Two capfuls in the bath and we have fun making white beards or blowing clouds ☁️