Praising the expat mums/moms on Mother's Day

Motherhood is hard for most people, at some point--and I think for anyone saying it has never been hard, they likely have an excellent support network, no financial stress, and so forth. Today, on Mother's Day, it got me thinking about how I think expat mums/moms deserve a little extra pat on the back for some of the challenges we face that others may not.

First and foremost, there's the point that most of us are parenting away from our key support networks. If you've been here long enough you probably have some great friends, and if you've married a Japanese citizen you may even have in-laws you can rely on for last minute childcare and the like. However, those people may still not feel the same as lifelong friends or the family you were born into. It can be tough!

Also, there's the point of navigating being a parent in a culture that's not your own. For instance, packing lunchboxes in my home country doesn't require any level of artistry to be seen as a good parent ;) There's a big mental level of adaptation, with things like doctor and dentist visits in a language that isn't my mother tongue, to learning the school system here and those requirements. 

Maybe most importantly of all, I think the expat mothers I've met in my years here seem to have a resilience that is something I've always looked up to and tried to emulate in my own parenting. 

I hope if you're celebrating Mother's Day today that you feel valued and appreciated, and recognize your grit amidst all the challenges that come with parenting as an expat.