The summer here in France felt endless, as I mentioned in my last French Life blog, the children get a whole two months off school. For us, it was a chance to really settle into family life. Adrien had the whole of August off (four weeks of holiday seems to be the norm here, and it was very welcome indeed). It felt so good to have proper time together, because when he’s working, the days disappear in a flash.
But come September, life shifted again. La rentrée is a big deal here, not just for the children heading back to school, but for adults too as work picks up after the summer slowdown. For us, this rentrée was especially emotional: my eldest started college. No more primary school days with both of my little girls. She’s growing so fast.
Shopping Lists as Long as Your Arm
Preparing for school in France is an event in itself. Unlike in England, where you mostly just need a pencil case and uniform, here you’re handed a list as long as your arm — and then some! For collège (secondary school), the list is even longer. We spent several hundred euros on supplies alone, not to mention clothes. With no school uniforms here (other than a sports kit), the girls needed new outfits and shoes too.
And the backpacks? Enormous. Since the children are expected to carry so much equipment day to day, their schoolbags look as if they could swallow them whole. The girls were buzzing with excitement, though, fresh notebooks, shiny pens, and the thrill of something new.
First Days and Big Transitions
My youngest had already done four weeks in her new school before the summer holidays to meet her teacher and get used to the routine. She also goes with our neighbours’ children, who are her regular playmates, so I felt confident she’d find her feet quickly.
But my eleven-year-old? That was another story.
She’s doing a special programme for students with French as a foreign language, to help her integrate, since the workload at collège is much heavier than at primaire.
The catch was that the school just five minutes from our home doesn’t offer the programme. Instead, she had to attend one across the city.... a daunting journey involving two buses at 7 a.m.
For a child who’d never travelled further alone than the corner shop at the end of our street, it was overwhelming. And for me, as her mum, the thought of her navigating a foreign city on her own was terrifying.
We practised the route over and over during the summer. I even gave her my old phone (despite not being a fan of children having mobiles) so we could stay in touch on those early rides. It turned out to be the best decision, I could talk to her until she got the hang of things.
And she did. Within the first week, she was navigating confidently, only once overshooting her stop and phoning me in a panic. Now she’s an independent young lady, happily hopping on buses, popping into the supermarket, and managing her days with a phone (and an AirTag for my peace of mind). It’s not easy learning to give her more space, but it’s part of this new chapter — for both of us.
Quiet House, Busy Pets
With both girls out of the house my eldest from 7 a.m. until nearly 6 p.m., and my youngest from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the house has grown strangely quiet. Primary children get Wednesdays off here, and collège has half-day Wednesdays, so we’ve claimed that as our “girly day” while Adrien is at work.
The pets, of course, keep me company. Loona is thrilled that I now have more time to take her on long, rambling walks. The guinea pigs and I have been bonding too, I often sit with them and read aloud. (If you’ve never tried it, you should! They really do enjoy the sound of your voice.)
Settling Into the French Way
We’ve had several meetings with teachers to discuss the girls’ needs around the language, and so far, things are going smoothly. Of course, it’s tough for them to be surrounded by French all day, but children are astonishingly adaptable.
Both girls have made friends. In fact, the French children seem fascinated by the “English kids.” At the school gates, children often come to me to practice their English, grinning with pride — it makes us feel like minor celebrities.
There’s still a long adjustment period ahead, but for now, we’re moving in the right direction. The girls are growing in confidence, Adrien and I are learning the rhythms of French family life, and with Loona trotting by my side and guinea pigs squeaking their approval, I feel like we’re finding our place here.
Final Thoughts
La rentrée in France is more than just a return to school — it’s a whole shift in family life. For us, it brought tears, nerves, and plenty of lists, but also pride, resilience, and new beginnings.
It’s never easy to watch your children grow into independence, especially in a new country, but this rentrée has shown me just how strong and adaptable we all are. And though the house may be quieter, the heart of our family (pets included) feels fuller than ever.