I realized recently that I'm dealing with new-but-same issues as several months ago.
Back at the CAF:
Still painful. I received a letter from Pajemploi which processes the payments between us & the nounou saying that my benefits had been suspended. Actually, it was this very polite letter asking me to fill out a form with my bank details so they could automatically withdraw the taxes and social charges. No thanks! This was during the Christmas craziness and I did write an email to which they actually responded saying that it was something with the CAF. I finally got around to calling last week (lines open from 8:30-noon, 13.30-16h just when I'm busy at work!) only to miss the window when live person was available. Tried again today and it turns out they need to have a photocopy of my visa on file. My last one expired in November so they just suspended everything.
I am waiting for my 10-year Carte de Résidence which should come before the end of the month when my temporary visa expires (Let's hope! Another on the list of phone calls I've been making). They told me that I could have my husband as the main contact on our account and all I could think was yeah, right! He would do NOTHING if he was saddled with the inconvenience of the CAF. So. Next week I will have to go to the office and hand over a copy of my visa and get them to not only reinstate my benefits, but also to give them to me retroactively.
Boo & Food:
Food and babies is a HUGE obsession. For those reading who have babies on the cusp of eating solids I can only say enjoy the food-free zone while it lasts! As they get older meal-time becomes such a headache. There are the foods that I make that he refuses (wrong texture, wrong temp, etc.). Usually I'm pretty lucky but I've been unlucky enough lately that I just want to shovel it in and move on. I see my friends whose toddlers are trying to learn to eat different things and to exercise control in their little lives. Mealtime is such a long drawn-out affair. There is our baby who still eats only purées, but at least a decent mix. Again, I'm taking my cue from the nanny who is so laid back and just says not to rush anything. Maybe we try to hard to push our kids forward. I don't know. I just wonder if there's anything I can do to keep it fun and to avoid a super-painful phase while he's learning.
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