Are you raising, or do you know anyone raising a child who is gender expansive? Parenting a child with gender expansive behavior is a marvelous, and often complicated, journey. Our world remains a very gendered place- where it is clearly understood what behaviors and interests are expected for girls and how those expectations differ for boys. Just take a walk through any toy aisle, or clothing store. Clothes and toys are sorted strictly by pink and blue- boys’ toys are …
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Crossing Cultures with Your Child’s Health Condition
During my years as a child life specialist in the United States, I provided psychosocial care to children and families who were facing a hospitalization. My job was to predict potential stressors and help shift the perception of threat so that kids would feel less anxious and more in control. The idea was to help kids take an active role in their own medical care, allowing them to thrive not only physically, but emotionally and developmentally. I was part of a …
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Letting Go of First Borns
I just dropped off my first born son at university. For the weeks and months leading up to this day I spoke to friends, both expat and “muggles” about their experience of letting go of first borns. I wanted to be prepared and allow the process to unfold naturally and be present to the unique journey that we were both about to embark on. This was huge. A massive moment to mark the end of his childhood and an enormous …
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International Day of the Girl: 12 Essential Life Lessons
“Está tratando para la embra!” “You’re trying for the girl!” This was the phrase we heard over and over again from our Dominican friends, colleagues, neighbors and even our doctor when we found out we were pregnant with our third child, after two boys, while living in the Dominican Republic. Sure, it would be nice to have a girl, but of course, it doesn’t work that way and we knew it. We were simply “trying” to have a third baby. …
