The Secret of French parenting, Multitasking + Breathwork
LMKWYT Nadia Josse
French women have a way of making everything look so effortless, and chic - including motherhood. Granted they have an overall better system that allows them more freedom (hello better maternity leave + free childcare). But there’s also a very conscious decision that the baby should fit into your life, and not the other way around.
After 5 years of living in Paris, I can fully attest that French women not only make motherhood look effortless, but they also raise better-behaved children. Whatever they are doing is working, so I needed to know more.
Enters: Nadia Josse . Nadia is the epitome of French coolness. She maneuvers a thriving career at one of the chicest luxury french houses, being a wife and a mother all while launching a new BREATHWORK practice; all with incredible grace. Continue reading as we discover her secret to multi-tasking, keeping the romance alive post baby and serving gourmet meals daily -all while looking effortless.
What has been the reality of being a new mom in NYC for you?
NJ: “NYC has a lot of great activities for kids and it's super convenient for parents just because everything is there around the corner. That being said, we crave nature more and want that for Paloma. And let's face it NYC is not the best for that. It's also a highly competitive city. I sometimes miss Paris for the sense of calm and quality of life you have when you have children. But I love NYC, I just don't go out like I used to in my 20's so I go back and forth between loving it and wanting to leave.”
You recently got married, had a baby, and started your breathwork practice in the city; all while keeping a very high-profile job in a luxury company. What is your secret to multi-tasking?
NJ: “ Well first I couldn't do this without the help of our amazing nanny Shanta and my husband who's very supportive. I would say the main piece of advice is:
Wake up early. I wake up at 6 am and this is MY time alone. I make coffee, meditate for 10 mins, journal, and then look at my calendar for the day and update my to-do list. I'm a type A so things are color coded. Then I put on my workout clothes and I work out for 45mins to 1 hour. While I do that my husband takes care of our daughter Paloma who usually wakes up around 7/7:30 am and changes her. This morning routine for me is non-negotiable. That builds the foundations for my day and helps me have a productive and positive day.
Our nanny comes in at 8 am and gets her ready to eat breakfast and takes her out to the park while I get ready for work.
My breathwork practice is mostly on weekends or at night. I carve out 1 hour on weekends to work on admin stuff. It's all possible but you have to have your non-negotiables in place.
I will say too - it's OK to have days where S*** is not GOING WELL! Sometimes I need more sleep because Paloma woke up 3 times or she wakes us up at 5 am.
That happens and we just deal with it and move on (extra coffee and a cold shower help).”
What is Breathwork? How and when did you get into it?
NJ: “Breathwork is a BIG umbrella name for many different techniques. I teach circular breathing which is a very powerful emotional release practice. It helps the body clear emotional debris and trauma accumulated in our lives. It gives you access to a higher state of consciousness that allows you to connect to your intuition and attract the things that are meant for you.
I heard about it years ago on a podcast. I was so curious to try. My first session was very intense, I cried a lot. I was so intrigued and wanted to learn more so a few months later I trained to become a breathwork facilitator. And once I had my certification I started teaching.”
I read online that you got your family through breathwork, can you please can you elaborate on this?
NJ: “I was already in a relationship with my now husband. But I was told it would be very difficult for me to conceive. I lost faith in my power to create life. With breathwork, I had visions of my daughter in my belly. I saw myself holding her, I saw my dad holding her. I released trauma around my own birth and connected to my feminine power. 3 months later I was pregnant. I'm not saying that BW is the solution but I think it changed the dialogue I had with myself.”
Do you think the practice has had an effect on your parenting?
NJ: “Yes, I'm a better and more present parent. I'm also a better wife, friend, and daughter. But taking care of myself not just through BW affects how I parent. I need time to be me before I can be a parent. “
I follow you on Instagram, and I must say you seem to really nurture your relationship with your husband – which is hard to do with a new baby. What are some tips for keeping the romance alive between diaper changes and toddler tantrums?
NJ: “Haha. That's for sure a challenge and sometimes all we want to do (actually most of the time) is be on the couch and watch the sopranos.
We schedule dates, or trips just the two of us - even just a weekend away feels good.
But we are a team and see each other as equals. We both take care of Paloma, and we both have 1-1 moments with her. I tried to empower him as a dad from the moment she entered this world. He changed diapers before I did. I know he also needs time to paint, go to the gym, and be creative and I respect that and he does the same for me. I'm very lucky. “
Speaking of nurturing your relationship, it seems like you cook the most delicious meals for your husband all the time. What is your secret?
“Ok so I love to cook and it relaxes me. I make a LOT of different things and frankly I don't really follow recipes. My philosophy in food is SIMPLE. I buy good quality grass-fed meat, wild fish, organic produce and that's what we eat. I do love recipes from Amy Chaplin, Bonberi, and Pamela Salzman. I also recently got the book Foodwise by Mia Ridgen and it's full of amazing dishes. I also love any cookbooks by Gwyneth Paltrow. I just loosely follow a recipe with what I have in hand.
Batch cooking is KEY. So I make a few things on rotation that we have for a few days and can serve in different ways:
Slow-Cooked Buffalo Chicken/ Turkey Taco Meat/ Teriyaki Salmon/ Beef Bolognese”
Speaking of hacks. Why do you think French kids behave so much better than their American counterparts? What is the secret?
NJ: “I think French people are a bit more loose or less "by the books" when it comes to raising children. But to be honest I'm a type A person so I need a schedule for Paloma. However, you need flexibility. It's OK to miss a nap, it's OK to adjust her sleep to whatever the day has thrown at you. It's ok if there's sugar in the cookie. My parents always had healthy food on the table but I was always allowed to eat whatever I wanted. I think it just gave me the freedom to make my own choices and resulted in me being a great eater as a child. I don't force Paloma to finish her plate, I give her what we eat, there's no "baby food" in the house aside from yogurt or applesauce pouches that she loves”
Paloma is almost 2 years old. What are some of her and your current favorites?
Cocojune Coconut Yogurt (they have pouches now)
All of LOVEVERY toys
Homeoplasmine (french pharmacy salve)
What are your favorite French / Euro brands?
NJ: “Anything from Monoprix - I go to Paris for work a few times a year and Monoorix is the French Target. They have the BEST kid’s clothes. It's quintessentially french and chic (plus looks like Bonpoint ;) ).
I love to grab a few of the HIPP crackers and cookies for P. French ingredients are just better.
I usually stop at the French pharmacy and grab Homeoplasmine, Biafine and Bioderma products.
For clothes, I LOVE Mini Rodini and usually buy them in France or the UK.”
What has been the biggest lesson on motherhood so far?
NJ: “Letting go of control (still working on that one). And be present - because time goes by WAY too fast.”
PS: I’m ESL so forgive any grammar mistakes.
Besos,
Victoria
Chicest French Mom out there!