Where in the world do you live and are you from there?
I live in Lagos, Nigeria, and I have lived here for almost three years. My two children, husband and myself moved here in July 2009. I am not originally from here. I am from the United states and grew up mostly in Illinois.
What Languages do you speak?
Does Dora the explorer Spanish count??? š I am sorry to say that I really donāt speak another language other than English (and a few phrases in Yoruba). In my defense, I did take Spanish in high school and Italian in college.:) English has become such a global language. When I travel, I always make a point of trying to learn a few phrases in the native language. It never fails. I will ask a person a question in another language and he or she always will answer me in English…no matter what country I’m in. I have just never really lived in a place I had to really learn a new language. The official language in Nigeria is English.
When did you first become a Mother?
I first became a mother on August 24, 2005 ( I was 29) when I received a phone call from my adoption agency while teaching my kindergarten class . They told me a baby boy had been born in Guatemala City, Guatemala on August 18, 2005. My husband and I had tried for so long to become parents and that time had finally come. Iāll never forget that moment!!!!:)
Are you a stay-at-home- mom or do you work?
I am not really sure how to answer that question. I am a mom who stays at home and thatās work. I was a kindergarten teacher for seven years before we brought our son home, and after that, I became a stay at home mom and I havenāt ever regretted it! I love to be able to be with my kids and watch them grow. Although, a glass of wine every now and then helps,too!!!:)
Why do you blog/write?
I started to write my blog in April 2009 when my family first learned we were moving to Lagos. I started it as a way to show my friends and family what we were doing and what things looked like over here. But, somewhere along the way, writing my blog became a way for me to reflect on things I have seen and done here in my everyday life. If I donāt write a post in my blog for a few days, I can tell. Too many ideas and thoughts start to roll around in my head and I have to get them out. Writing, for me, is a way to make sense of what I see and do each and every day.
How would you say that you are different from other mothers?
I guess one way I am different is that I have experienced motherhood two different ways: biological and adoption. I have struggled with infertility, and only someone who has been through infertility can truly understand the pain and heartbreak one experiences. We brought our son home from Guatemala in March 2006. Then, I gave birth to my daughter in 2008 after becoming pregnant by surprise after doctors told my husband and I that we had a less than one percent chance of ever becoming pregnant. I have seen both sides of the coinā¦adopting and having a biological child. Both ways to create a family are miracles in ways which are totally different from each other. But, there is no way that I could love one more than the other. Both of them are pieces which make our family of four complete.
What do you view as the challenges of raising a child in todayās world?
One of the biggest challenges in todayās world is ā how to let go.ā When many colleges are offering sessions to parents of college freshmen tips and ideas of how to let their children be independent and make their own choices, you know that the age of hyper parenting is definitely upon us.
It used to be parents would let their kids go out by themselves to the park, and now there is always a small gasp if a child under the age of 12 is seen out alone ā¦unsupervised.:) I remember when I was little getting on my bike and riding with my friends to the playground at a nearby school and playing with my friends for hours. My mom wasnāt right there with me, and I had to figure some things out on my own. Today, there is fear of kidnapping and things are so competitive and children (and parents) are so involved in so many things. Sometimes I wonder if some children want to do so many activities or if their parents are pushing them. Will I or am I doing that to my own children? How do I learn to let go and let them āstruggleā a bit to find their own strength to deal with life ?
Technology is also a huge challenge in regards to raising children. It changes so fastā¦not just year to year, but month to month! There are so many gadgets (iPad, DS, cell phones, iPod). The children donāt even have to have a face to face conversation with anyoneā¦almost ever! I worry about my children having proper social skills to even carry on a conversation. If all I get is text messages from my children when they go off to college, Iāll be in my car driving to their dorm rooms demanding a conversation from them. Wait a minuteā¦that is exactly what I was saying I wouldnāt do in the first paragraph!!! LOL!!!:)
How did you find out about World Momās Blog?
I was reading another blog and saw the WMB button, I clicked it and loved the site. I think it is incredible to have so many moms from all over the world come together in one place to share their experiences and I wanted to be part of it!:)
This isĀ first-time, original post to World Mom’s Blog from our new writer in Nigeria and mother of two, Meredith.
Meredith! Welcome to World Moms Blog! I’m so glad you contacted us to contribute. I really enjoyed reading your answer to the challenges of raising a family in today’s world — learning to let go. Very true and interesting perspective!
Looking forward to hearing more about your Nigerian adventures!
Jen š
Welcome! It’s lovely to meet you. š
Welcome to WMB Meredith. To let children find their own strength to learn to deal with things – I think this is a fantastic attitude. It takes a lot of strength to let go and not push kids in the ‘right’ direction but help them find it.
Welcome to WMB, Meredith! Looking forward to hearing about life in Nigeria. I agree with technology being a two-edged sword these days with the kids, too! I’ve made more of an effort to be on tech less and be with my child more, especially since he is still so young.
Love connecting with you!
Welcome š
Welcome Meredith. I look forward to reading more.
Hello from South Africa, Meredith! š
It never ceases to amaze me how many children are born after one “gives up” the idea of having a biological child! I know many people who fall pregnant “miraculously” after they have brought home their adopted child. In my case (after being told that I’d need “medical intervention” if I ever wanted to fall pregnant) I actually conceived my own “miracle” when we decided to wait a couple of years! š
I can reassure you that (even kids who appear to be “tech addicts”) DO actually”unplug” long enough to form meaningful relationships “in real life”! My 2 are respectively 19 and 16 years old. My 19 year old has landed a job as a Computer Programmer and my 16 year old spends a lot of time out with her friends.
Hubby & I allowed them to use public transport etc on their own from age 13. Of course I worried …. but I never let them know it! They’re both really good about calling me when they get home or wherever they are. Today, for example, I’m at work until 5pm. I dropped off my daughter at school at 8:30am (school usually starts at 8am but today is a school holiday as they are building the sets for the school production of “Hairspray the Musical”), she is going with a group of friends to the Mall afterwards and she’ll be at a Youth Group meeting from 7pm tonight until about 10:30pm when hubby will fetch her.
Both my kids can cook, wash up and do the laundry. They also take turns feeding our animals (2 dogs and 2 cats). I totally agree that LOVE is what binds a family and not genetics!
I also look forward to learning more about what life is really like in Nigeria. Obviously we get a very “skewed” view of Nigeria from all the “asylum seekers” who have “invaded” our South African cities! š