We're expecting our first child sometime this month. As we moved down here over a month ago, my wife left her job and has been mostly at home ever since. It is also clear that she will still be unable to work for a few more months. This makes it very hard for us (particularly her) to get to get out of the house and see other people - although last month's curry meet was greatly appreciated.

Are there any others out there in or around Basel in a similar situation and have had to deal with cabin fever? What can be done?

do you have decent telly? this might help pass a few hours....

A very nice telly, but then I'm frequently reminded of that tune by Bruce Springsteen:

"57 channels and nothing on"

BluewinTV or Cablecom Digital TV is a simple option. Mindnumbing talkshows will bring about a refreshed desire to leave the apartment!!

We have a clear desire to leave the flat - we just don't know what to do.

See? All of this waiting for the birth has become mind-numbing enough.

afterwards, you'll just want to sleep. How long until due date now?

Week and a half. I'm not looking for things to do right now, that would be silly.

Sleep will be very high on the priority list, but I'm just trying to figure out how new parents find their way back into society and avoid a near hermit-like existance at home.

talking from experience, get all the rest you can, as your batteries will not be more than 50% charged for a while.

I did read a paper a while back, apparently new parents lose approx 3 months worth of sleep in the first two years ...

If you want to hurry thngs along, Mrs P can recommend nesting, especially cleaning windows in a frenzy, worked for us ...

coming into spring, you'll be laughing, Dad taking little 'un out for a walk, you'll attract plenty of admiring glances from young mädels ....

Yep, the whole lack-of-sleep thing is probably going to be my main issue. Oh yeah, and the mädels-in-spring thing too..

At the moment, I'm more concerned about Mrs Dodger rather than myself. I can always go to work or the pub, but she is stuck at home with little chance to go outside and meet other people. Even though she'll be very busy with the littl'un for a while, cabin fever will probably set in.

difficult times I'm sure, especially having only recently moved & not having the local support structure of home.

She can maybe try Liliput, its a good site for mothers & young families to find out lots of info regards littlies & also has section where you can place free adverts. Mrs P & I have met & befriended a few couples in the Bern area through this. As Mrs Dodger is a German speaking native, she should be able to mash something up in no time.

Good luck S

Since Mrs. Dodger speaks german, she can have a gander at swiss moms. I find the regional groups very helpful and a great way to meet others in the area with kids that are the same age.

Good luck and congrats!

I found the first two years of being a mother in Switzerland were some of the loneliest years of my life. Living out in the country, people expected me to stay at home and take care of my child. Period.

Before motherhood, I was working 100% at a job I loved, doing fitness in the evenings, travelling and hanging out with childless friends.

All I can recommend is to find clubs for mothers and kids for your wife to join. Give her freedom in the evening to go out with friends or do sports. Find a babysitter to give you some free evenings. Make new Mommy friends and keep in touch with family and old friends.

I was able to find a part-time job that helped me find myself again.

I adore my children and having a second one made our family complete. And I thank God I found a job to give me the necessary balance between being a mother, housewife and the rest.

but I'm just trying to figure out how new parents find their way back into society and avoid a near hermit-like existance at home.[/quote]
Hahahahahahaha, we're still trying to find out how to do this and our girl is virtually grown up.
Seriously, you'll be astonished at how many new acquaintences you make once the child comes along. I won't say friends because that is unrealistic at first. Our experience was one of meeting or seeing other people with a sprog in the supermarket and striking up a conversation which extended to meetings (with grown up things like alcohol), it was good for the adults and great for the child/baby to have someone of a similar age to be with. We were in Oman, so quite different to what you're experiencing.
Good luck

We're in a similar situation. Her family is 600km away while mine is on the other side of the planet. When the little one is here, I want to try give my better half as much free time as possible. This isn't just for her benefit, but also for the baby. The tricky part is exactly what do we do.

Finding clubs and meeting those in a similar situation would be a good start - the above-posted links have already helped. Sport is also high on the list: Lörrach is pretty well catered-for there. Later (not too much later, we hope) will be finding a new job that has the necessary time balance.

That's quite some experience you've had there. Since this is our first, it's still hard to imagine what things will be like afterwards. But, given the opinions from all of you here, it doesn't look like it will be all that bad.

Hi!

I wrote not long time ago with the same goal. We will be in Basel in a week. I'm pregnant and we expect the little one for end of September.

Same situation, I left my job to come with Hubby. I'm quite good to spend time alone, but after a while, I need to see people. And I'm scared to be bored. And I will enjoy to be able to share with someone in the same situation.

Nil

Ah yes, I only just found your post. Sorry for overlooking it.

Let us know when you've settled in here!

I'll do it!

Nil

This is an old thread so wanted to see if there are currently any groups of people ( aside from Basel childcare trust, of which I am already a member) who meet up with their little ones? Have no family here like most EF members and our little one is aged 3 weeks. Would like to start getting out the house and meeting other mums and babies.