Steph's Two Girls

http://www.stephstwogirls.blogspot.com/

Life with two gorgeous (yes I'm biased) girls aged 7 and 5; our youngest has autism. Incudes general family ramblings and my love of cakes and Take That...

Steph is a winner of Top 25 European Moms - 2012

What's the best part about raising a family in the European Union?

We love raising our family close to our own families and friends, in a country where democracy is important and schooling is excellent. We live in a beautiful country, with amazing countryside and great transport links. We are surrounded by very passionate people, and we also have the opportunity to reach several other countries in very quick time, and the chance to learn about their cultures and their languages.

What's a great destination for a family vacation in Europe?

There's so many great places to visit in Europe, from Disney in France, to the gorgeous beaches of the Meditteranean, and the snow covered mountains in Switzerland. Germany does Christmas markets like no other, and Italy is full of good food and fashion! I'd have to be biased though and suggest that England should be top of the list - you can't beat London for multicultural diversity, hustle and bustle, landmarks, the home of the Royal Family and free museums for kids and adults alike! Wales and Scotland are also big contenders, with undulating hills and spectacular views, just like the Lake District and Dales in England. We also have a lot of coastline to explore, and I'm sure there's nowhere quite like my hometown, Blackpool, in the United States :-)

What's the biggest misconception people have about raising a family in the European Union?

Maybe people believe we can travel freely without passports throughout Europe... for security reasons that is not the case. Other than that I have no idea what other people think it would be like to raise children here! All I can say is that we love it.