Some American parents choose to move abroad and raise their children in other parts of the world, such as Spain, Denmark, and Japan. Recently, an American mother made headlines after sharing insights about raising her family in Italy, specifically on the Amalfi Coast.
Sarah L. Thompson posted a video revealing the differences between raising children in the United States and raising children in Italy. Some of it was difficult to get used to, she admitted.
First, Thompson said Italian children go to bed much later than American children (and some adults).
“Oh my god, Italian kids go to bed so late,” she said in the viral video. “It really depends, whether it’s 10 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11 p.m. We’ve had to adjust our kids to a later bedtime. Otherwise, if they go to bed early, we have to Because I can’t do what I want to do.”
“And when your kids are super grumpy and you go to a birthday party, you have to get them used to a later bedtime.”
The American mother also said that her specialty is cooking three fresh meals a day. do not have I’m used to doing it on the national side.
“It’s just incredible. Italy has some of the best food and highest quality food in the world, but it’s very stressful to have to constantly prepare fresh food for the kids. It’s exhausting,” she admitted.
“Sure, he hasn’t started eating solids yet, but thankfully, my daughter, what we do in Italy is a trick where we just make different sauces. Although we always have pasta for the kids. Things like zucchini pasta, pomodoro pasta, pumpkin pasta. They just do it somehow, but it’s pretty tiring to prepare that every day. At least they’re eating something really delicious.”
Thompson further explained that in Italy, children and parents are always together. Family life is highly valued. She points out that this aspect of Italian life has its pros and cons. She loves to be with children, but sometimes it is difficult to leave the couple alone.
“…the world of adults and the world of children have become one. There is no difference. They do everything with us. We take them almost everywhere, it’s wonderful But sometimes it can be very stressful because couples just need some alone time,” she said.
As in Spain and Denmark, parents are not constantly hovering around their children for fear of kidnapping or danger.
“It’s perfectly fine and not weird at all to let your kids run around freely in the main plaza, with cars coming and going, skaters coming and going, people passing by, especially if they’re not next to you. ” she explained.
“I still have that anxiety, that American anxiety about unknown danger. It’s there almost everywhere. Sure, I live in a small town in southern Italy, but…here, children It’s completely normal to just walk around.”
Thompson also noted that children in Italy are not circumcised, and admitted it took some getting used to when it comes to cleaning.
“I’m still learning that as we speak,” she admitted, holding her young son.
Thompson also said toys, diapers and general products for children in Italy are more expensive than in the United States.
“It’s a little stressful because you’re like, ‘I know I can get it cheaper if I go to America,’ but yeah, I live in Italy,” she said.
She concluded by praising the decency of Italians, noting that children do not get “dirty looks” if they act violently or cry in public.
“They try to make him laugh and I try to stop crying, and it’s unbelievable. When I was in a restaurant in America, people were just staring at me,” she said. I remembered.
When American parents living in other countries talk about the differences between living in the United States and other parts of the world, there seem to be some common themes. One is that in other parts of the world, children are part of the whole experience. They are accepted, served, and accommodated just like any other human being.
Another aspect of living outside the US seems to be that parents don’t have to fly helicopters around their children. You can play and run around, and you don’t have to worry about your child’s safety.If your American parents live America I felt the same sense of acceptance and peace.