The people of France really adore their children.

Even in big city Paris, complete strangers will often provide helpful advice on how to be a good mother.

That's what a pregnant American discovered when an elderly gentleman stopped her on the street.

He took my hand in his and he told me he thought I looked beautiful and then he thanked me

for making a new French citizen.

Hi, I'm Rick Steeves.

Today, it's a Mother's Day edition of Travel with Rick Steeves.

American Mary Barone tells us what it's like marrying into French culture

and talks about the joys and challenges of raising a child in Paris.

And another young American mother, Jennifer Wilson,

joins us to share her family's adventure,

moving everybody to a tiny rustic village in Croatia,

where her ancestors came from.

The neighbors had a cow on the first floor of their house and the gathering space was sort of

the cafe bar in the middle of town.

That ends some special tributes to our mothers. It's just ahead on Travel with Rick

Steve's.

We've got some fun examples of family adventures today on Travel with Rick Steeves.

Mary Barone married a Frenchman and now she's raising a young child in Paris.

Mary lets us in on French expectations for being a good mother.

And Jennifer Wilson joins us in a moment to explain what happened when her family opted out

of their busy American life and relocated in a humble village in Croatia that time forgot.

...