“You don’t work”—A lesson in the dressing room of H&M
My daughter told me I don’t work with such authority that I discovered that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t forward enough about what I do.
The Culture Shock is Free at Walmart for Returning Americans
“What is it like when your American friends visit you? Are you totally overwhelmed with culture shock?” Our Swedish neighbor asked one night at dinner. “No, the culture shock doesn’t happen when friends and family visit because we’re still in Sweden. They are only a tiny piece of America in an ocean of what’s familiar. […]
The Mom Who Cried Wolf
The snow crunched beneath my thick soled boots. After a week without snow and temperatures that rose during the day and fell at night, the ground was covered in patchy bits of hardened snow. The top layer was icy, and a confident stride would degenerate into walking like a novice tight rope walker with both […]
Celebrating Santa Lucia in Sweden
Today is Santa Lucia and children everywhere in Sweden are honoring the faithfulness of an Italian woman and martyr, Lucia. Lucia’s Story—The real stuff The year was 283 and Lucia was born to rich noble parents. Lucia’s father died when she was just five years old and in an attempt to look after Lucia, […]
Supporting Your Son Wearing Pink Clothes to School
A pile of clothes littered the bedroom floor. Stuffed animals sat on bookshelves wearing my daughter’s underwear after she dressed all of her furry friends in her clothes. Usually, I let the kids manage their rooms and pick up after themselves, but this time I had to intervene. The mess was at my limit. We […]
There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays
There’s no place like home for the holidays… Many people interpret home differently when they become adults. For me, home is wherever my family is. However, the definitions for both home and family have changed over the years. With each stage of life, they take on new meaning and I’ve shifted into different roles. When […]
Swedish First Grade—Room to Grow
Necessary disclaimer: I understand and acknowledge that not every school in Sweden does things the same way. This is simply a little peek into what we have experienced. I’ve written in the past about my children’s experiences with Swedish preschool and with föreskoleklass so, now it’s time for an update as the fall term of first grade […]
Winging it in West Africa
Listen to Nicola narrate her chapter in Knocked Up Abroad Again Nicola Beach is a second-generation expat who has dodged bullets in Lagos, stray cats in Istanbul, got cozy in Jozi, and is currently in Hong Kong. She blogs about her family’s far-flung travels at https://expatorama.com Did you enjoy Nicola’s chapter? If so, be sure […]
Where is Home?
Candice Cabutihan Cipullo describes her experiences raising her kids in Japan, Canada, and the Philippines. Her chapter dives into the challenges of experiencing life while always feeling foreign and how she explains the answer to her kids when they ask her, “Where is home?” Listen to Candice narrate her chapter here. Candice Cabutihan Cipullo has […]
A Visit to a Swedish Outdoor Preschool
A wooden propeller plane makes for a great climb Cold. Uncomfortable. Rugged. Rustic. Miserable. Those are the words that I would’ve used to describe a Swedish outdoor preschool before I knew any better. Preschools in Sweden are for children ages 1-6 (the year they turn 6, they head off to “big school” so some kids […]