I'm Susan — devout Francophile, mother of twins, writer, creative director, and aspiring author. I've been sharing my life here since 2010...thanks for reading!
Hello et bonjour! I’m so glad you’ve discovered my little corner of the internet. I’m Susan, a forty-something writer, creator, queer femme, and mother (of twins). My life is “flourishing”, hence the name…with a French twist. I’ve been sharing my life here since 2010, with more to be found @fleurishing. I also founded @thefrancophiles community in 2016 with a goal to inspire, inform and unite Francophiles around the world and it continues to grow. In addition to the wealth of information I’ve shared here over the years, I’m getting even more personal on Substack…I hope you’ll join me there!
Our time in Toronto is coming to a close (we’ve been here for over a month…check out my Stories on Instagram). We’ve really enjoyed this city – it’s culturally diverse and exciting, with hints of Francophilia everywhere. While I’ve shared most of our adventures on social media, I’ll get into a bit more detail here for those that may be planning a trip. Mind you, we’ve been here during peak winter, but this one has been fairly mild. The only day where I felt like it was too much was when the polar vortex came through and it was -7 degrees (celsius) with a wind chill of -16. I made the mistake of going for a walk, and very quickly realized why Canadians sometimes wear ski masks – lesson learned. Speaking of lessons…if you haven’t learned to ice skate, I highly recommend doing so before you come or signing up for a private lesson in Canada. You DO NOT want to attempt to learn in a rink filled with Canadians. Just trust me on this. You can thank me later.
Happy New Year and hello from Canada! We’re kicking off 2023 with a grand adventure. I’m thrilled that we have the opportunity to live here for a few months as a family, thanks to a work assignment. My love for this country is almost a given (my father is Canadian), plus I fell hard for it while visiting in my twenties. I’ve always wanted to live here, and experiencing it with my children is next level. We crossed at Rainbow Bridge and were then gifted with this sight at Niagara Falls – it felt like kismet. I have a long history with this place, and yet this was my first visit to the falls. That’s a story for another time…one that I’m writing while here. In the meantime, allow me to share this wonder of the world!
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The rumors are true…the Canadian side is the best way to experience it. The power is absolutely palpable, and breathtaking. We went on a weekday to avoid the crowds, but winter also helps with that issue, ha. It was a brisk day (albeit mild by Canadian standards) but the sun was shining, hence the rainbow! We walked the length of it, stood in awe, and finished with a visit to the gift shop. There are a lot of other experiences to be had there of course, but having just crossed the border we were anxious to reach our destination in Toronto. We will be living there for about a month and can’t wait to explore all that the city has to offer. I already have a perma-smile seeing the French language everywhere!
I’ve been quiet lately…both here and on social media. There is a lot happening in my life behind the scenes, and I’m not ready to share it publicly–it’s that personal. For over twelve years now, I’ve shared so much of my personal life online (which is ironic, considering I’m such an introvert). Right now I’m experiencing a strong desire to pull back, almost entirely. There’s been a shift happening within me, and I strongly feel the need to retreat. Call it burnout, call it a mid-life awakening…I just know that I’m evolving and change can be scary at first. For the first time in ten (or more) years, I’m truly taking time for myself. Nourishing both my body and mind. Resolving childhood (and adult) trauma in therapy, setting boundaries, and learning not to define my self-worth through work or accomplishments. I don’t know where this path will lead just yet…and that’s ok. There is no set timeline for our dreams or life – I’m just thankful to be living it.
Apparently we blinked…Marie and Henry (our Bastille Day babies) are ten! Time is accelerating at shocking speed these days – at least, it feels that way to us (the adults). I try to remind myself that it’s only a construct but I’m not sure that fact offers much comfort. We spent their birthday week visiting family down south, and stayed at a luxe home thanks to the generosity of a good friend. We barely left the house and it felt like a five star vacation. We usually try to head north this time of year and avoid the scorching temps, but it was impossible to say no to a private pool. Next week we’re hosting a birthday party with their friends at home which feels like such a treat after years of isolation (and yes, we’re still being careful). Needless to say, we’ll be taking the month of August to recover, lol. You can see more on this post, and below…
