The Blog
INDIA: Praying for Rain
Whoever coined the phrase, ‘bright cheerful sunny day’ had not been to Chennai. Do you know what they say about the weather in Chennai? There are only 3 seasons in Chennai: hot, hotter, and hell!
BRAZIL: How Not to Get a Dog – A Tragicomedy with a Lesson
My husband’s godparents have two dogs and had apparently got a third one: a boxer that, despite only being a few months old, reminded me of a small calf. I noticed they were especially enthusiastic about the new dog, and were continuously recounting all of his wonderful qualities. Even their teenage daughter, who usually does not mingle much with the adults, was all smiles and would compliment the dog.
CANADA: Keeping Our Kids Safe In Cyberspace
During my visit to South Africa in February, I was chatting online with my husband one day when my mom passed by on her way to the kitchen. She caught a glimpse of the computer screen and asked me what "LOL" meant. The ensuing discussion about online communication...
Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 18th!
On Monday we will visit Toronto, Canada, where Kirsten Doyle has something to say about online friendships. She worries about the day her children get old enough for social media and email, and yet many of her own friends are people she has never met in person. On...
Saturday Sidebar: Baby weight and pregnancy weight…what’s the norm?
This week's Saturday Sidebar Question comes from World Moms Blog writer Maggie Ellison. She asked our writers, “Pregnancy/baby weight....where are you with this? What are the social norms about pregnancy/baby weight where you are from?” Check out what some of our...
INDONESIA: Blending Cultures
Raising a mixed-culture child is unique, there’s no doubt about it. There’s a lot of mix-and-match of parenting techniques until we finally find our own little blend of both cultures that works for my son and me. Besides the obvious ability of him to speak bilingual,...
PHILIPPINES: Interview with Mrs. P. Cuyugan
Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there? I was born and raised in a wonderful, always summery island country called the Philippines. I live in a pretty little village in Alabang, in the city of Muntinlupa, which is just south of our capital city,...
POLAND via USA: Breastfeeding in public?
A while ago, during a nice lunch in a restaurant, I had to feed my two-month-old daughter. The moment I put her to my breast (completely covered, by the way), a constant whispering and eyeballing from a table across us made me feel like I was doing something wrong. These were young people, among them a mother herself.
KENYA: The Help
Before moving to Kenya, along with updating our vaccines and strategically packing our belongings to fit our meager bag allowance, one of the things I prepared myself for was the possibility of having house help. Both my husband and I would be working and we’d be...
VIRGINIA, USA: Moving Family Around the World
Just because I am a list maker doesn't mean I always have it all together. And just because I check things off the list, on-time, and double-check each list, doesn't mean I'm able to feel calm and confident. Not when it comes to moving my whole life and family half...
Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 11th!
On Monday we will check in with Dee Harlow, who has her hands full as she prepares to move herself and her family all the way to Laos. She tells us how she copes with the stress of trying to get everything together. On Tuesday, we head to Kenya, where Mama Mzungu...
Saturday Sidebar: Tantrums, meltdowns….how to deal?
This week's Saturday Sidebar Question comes from World Moms Blog writer Ruth Wong. She asked our World Moms, “What are some of the best ways you have discovered in dealing with toddler tantrums?” Check out what some of our World Moms had to say... Polish Mom...
ILLINOIS, USA: Free From Expectations and Recollections
See your child as a human: notice the dirt under his fingernail, the tangle in her hair, his little chapped lips. Realize you are blessed to walk beside this person, in the flesh at this very moment. Alive and free from expectations and recollections.
FRANCE: We Do What We Can
I am not an ex-patriot, technically speaking. When my ten year resident visa expires in three years I'll be taking the test to become a citizen of France---well, actually, a dual citizen of France and The United States. For one thing, it'll be easier that way not to...
Washington, USA: Walking in the Woods
I had a wonderful Mother’s Day, being loved and cared for by my husband and sons. The day prior, I had been out to brunch and observed several multigenerational families getting a jumpstart on the holiday over pancakes. It reminded me of the nagging longing that I have felt for the past 14 years of living in the Pacific Northwest. I love where I live, but I am a plane ride away from any blood relative. As someone who grew up in a big family and lived walking distance to my grandmother’s house, it is not something I have fully made peace with. Part of me wished that I could be sitting around a table with my mother and grandmother at that moment. I decided to do what I always do when I need to mentally regroup. I went walking in the woods.
Washington, USA: Walking in the Woods
I had a wonderful Mother’s Day, being loved and cared for by my husband and sons. The day prior, I had been out to brunch and observed several multigenerational families getting a jumpstart on the holiday over pancakes. It reminded me of the nagging longing that I have felt for the past 14 years of living in the Pacific Northwest. I love where I live, but I am a plane ride away from any blood relative. As someone who grew up in a big family and lived walking distance to my grandmother’s house, it is not something I have fully made peace with. Part of me wished that I could be sitting around a table with my mother and grandmother at that moment. I decided to do what I always do when I need to mentally regroup. I went walking in the woods.
INDIA: My Birth Story
As I entered my 9th month of pregnancy, I went for the routine check-up, which were now weekly. The doctor found that the baby was underweight, and that I had some serious feeding to do.
To speed up the process, the doc also prescribed some medicines that were to be taken intravenously, kind of like a glucose drip, over a period of 6 hours every three days. This was in addition to all the feeding frenzy going on at home. I was expected to be in bed at all times, staring at the ceiling or sleeping, except if I wanted to use the bathroom.
SOUTH AFRICA: Supersitter Becomes a Mother
I was an arrogant “know-it-all” BC (before children). I considered myself a cross between a childcare library of knowledge and Mary Poppins! I studied Child Psychology and Development, and was trained in CPR (both adult and baby) as well as Level 1 First Aid. This enabled me to earn good money (through the agency, called SuperSitters in Cape Town) to move into the homes of wealthy parents and take care of their “trouble” kids. From babies with colic to special needs scholars, to “terrible” toddlers and spoilt “brats”, there wasn’t a child I couldn’t deal with, both swiftly and efficiently! Naturally, this made me a supremely smug and overconfident expectant mom. After all, I had both theoretical and practical knowledge of how to deal with babies and children up to age 12 … didn’t I?
Travel Itinerary for the Week of June 4th!
We're starting this week in a beautiful corner of the world. On Monday we will be in Cape Town, South Africa with Mama Simona. As a former nanny with some impressive qualifications, she was perfectly equipped to have a smooth-sailing birth experience. Or was she? On...
Saturday Sidebar: Look into my crystal ball…
This week World Moms Blog writer Tara B. asks, “If you had a crystal ball and could see your child(ren)'s future, would you?” Check out what some of our World Moms had to say... The Alchemist of India writes: “Oh yes, definitely. I am always curious to know about my...
SINGAPORE: The Sibling Relationship Begins in the Womb
Sure, kids being kids, there is constant fighting over toys (although Javier is just turning one, he’s proving to be able to stand his own ground), and the occasional jealousy and insecurity manifesting itself in different negative forms of behaviour, but I do see that there remains a soft spot in Vera’s heart for her baby brother. Some would say it’s a gender thing but I think it goes beyond that.
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