I was wondering what are people’s experiences of having and raising children in a different country from your own, specially if your partner is a local. Did you find it challenging not having your family to support you? Did you manage to have them be bilingual? Do you find it’s hard for them to identify with your country, and if so, what are good ways to help with this?
I’m Finnish and I met my Brazilian husband in Canada where we’ve lived for the past 14 years. Life before kids was a breeze but after having kids (both during Covid) it has been SO hard. At least the people who have a local partner can normally get help from their family but we don’t have anyone. Raising our kids to speak 4 languages (our languages + 2 local ones) has been the easiest part of this whole ordeal. I feel like they identify with both our home countries because they speak the languages fluently and consume a fair bit of music, literature and tv from there too. They see themselves as Canadians but feel totally at ease in both of our home countries. I feel like knowing the language and having access to your culture and people (family and friends) is key.