I have had so many interesting conversations over the past week. There is so much to share it has been hard to decide what I want to share with you.
Someone asked a group of parents what they thought it takes to be an amazing parent. The answers were varied and I could understand and see why each person chose their response.
Some of the responses were patience, honesty, vulnerability, compassion, radical responsibility, understanding and unwavering support. I would agree with all of these but the one answer that stood out to me the most was community.
In a nutshell I believe this one thing allows parents to encompass all of the traits described before and so much more.
For me, as an expat mother, community is one of the most vital aspects of life but it also takes time, effort and commitment to develop. Community is vital for all mothers, all parents, I just know my expat status makes forming, building and sustaining a community look different.
The last time we moved I was heartbroken for the seven years of time, attention and effort I had put into building a community around myself and my family. I knew who I could call when I was running late for pick up. I knew who my kids were comfortable with if I had an emergency and needed to drop them somewhere. It is the little nuances of what it means to be in community that are the most special. Yet I have maintained those connections and they are a rich part of my life.
When we moved it was a whole new experience, the culture, the region, the climate they were all different. There were some really amazing lessons that we all learned and we did pick up some pretty amazing and supportive friends along this journey.
Community is about fellowship, connection shared ideas and support. Community looks different in the world today than it did when I was a kid. We have some amazing opportunities for creating community. The world is changing at a pretty significant pace and there are times when we don’t feel as though the immediate environments we are in support our goals, objectives and values we want for our children.
As we work towards raising healthy thriving adults it is important to remember that connection to our kids and providing supportive environments are vital. Environments that help bridge the gap between what they are getting from the world and what we want for our kids.
The world is ever changing and our kids face significant challenges daily. Supporting our kids in developing resilience while also giving them a soft place to land is key.
This week I would encourage you to watch Childhood 2.0, I believe it is a must see for all parents.
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