 Re: Bringing up kids abroad
One thing I forgot - one of the problems for the non-native parent in our situation is that, inevitably, the child grows up identifying more with the country s/he lives in than with your country. (I think this may happen anyway even if both parents are non-native, but perhaps to a lesser extent). If you ask my son his nationality, for instance, it's Italian. He may add as an afterthought that he's half British, but only if he thinks it's relevant. His personal identity is firmly Italian. And when it comes to the World Cup or something, it's Italy all the way ...
It took me a while to get used to this, and it still niggles, however much I accept that it's natural. |