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All around the globe, moms find common ground

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Most of the blogs I read are American, and I've found myself actively seeking out ones that are not, because I'd started feeling sort of lazy and ethnocentric. There's a whole world out there! And the internet brings it right to my desk! Time to branch out a little!

While it is likely true that there are plenty of commonalities in the human experience, across cultures, it is undeniably true that the commonalities across the parenting experience transcend location and culture in a way that little else does. I knew that I was feeling kinship with fellow moms across the country, so it should've come as no surprise that I feel that same kinship with some women across the world... and no, it's not all diapers and school supplies.

Those who read infertility blogs are already well-acquainted with Tertia of So Close. Once about her struggle to achieve parenthood, So Close now follows Tertia's twins and other facets of her life in South Africa.

Just recently, Tertia regaled us with the ubiquitous OMG the kids almost found the vibrator story, which is a staple of every parent's "kids do the darndest things" arsenal.

Snippets of Life is Karen Cheng's blog, written largely about her life with her husband and two boys in Perth, Australia. (The illustration at the top of this post is a dinosaur painted by Karen's son, Callum.)

In her August 3rd post, Karen writes:

As much as I love being a parent, sometimes people forget I am a NORMAL PERSON! I do have a life. I do have a personality outside my family. And I DO like talking about things that are not children related.

It's always been a huge conversation stopper at parties and functions, when someone asks me "What do you do?". I used to say proudly, "I'm a stay at home mother..." And find myself repeating the whole "No, I don't work. Yes, I love hanging out with my kids. No, I'm not going back to work soon. Blah blah blah."

Now I like to joke and say I'm a "Lady of leisure - and I work all day at spending my husband's money. It's actually harder than it sounds, but I completely recommend it."

I laughed out loud when I read that. But the truth is that she had me from her About Me section with this choice little bit:

I'm a Christian. I reckon that God is cool, loving, down-to-earth and has an awesome sense of humour. But his PR people need to lift their game.

Irene Nam chronicles her life in Paris with her twin boys over at Momster. Although I love the descriptions of her boys' antics, I love even more that Irene is willing to share beyond her experiences as a mom, like when she embraced her nerdy side:

yes, I am an almost thirty, wife and mother of two and I went to the free concert of the top 6 finalists of France's own version of American Idol with my friend Katia. yes, the average age of the audience was 11. after a few awkward attempts I did manage to quiet the responsible mother outraged at 13-year-olds wearing thong underwear and unashamedly screamed my lungs out. I sang. I even danced. and surprisingly, I did not invite curious stares. I think the last concert I felt so deliriously enthusiastic about was New Kids On the Block's. and I was 12.

For a feast for the eyes (and ideas, for those who scrapbook as well), look no further than Celebrate the Everyday. A family of ex-pats living in the Caymans, this mom shares her thoughts as well as her gorgeous scrapbook layouts. I was struck, recently, by how easy it is to forget the early days with our kids (and perhaps I wished, once again, that I was a "crafty type" and had scrapbooked those precious years), when reading this post:

I know they are suppose to be the 'terrible two's' but I can't help but love this age as much as I find it an incredible challenge. Now that Elle can talk we are getting a glimpse of what is actually going on inside her mind and it's so fun to hear her thoughts and feelings on different subjects. We are starting to see so much more of her spunky personality blossom as well as the characteristics that define who she is. I love it.

Kristin writes about her life with baby

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Mistress Of The Dorkness 5 pts

Rebecca, I'm still learning the language...
so?...
biscuit = cookie? :-D I hope...

hehe, last time we were there, my sister in law went to get us some snacks and it took a few minutes for me to communicate that I just wanted a bag of 'crisps' (although, I quite liked the fresh chips with vinegar ). ;)

Melanie Perry
***not all who wander are lost***
http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com

Rebecca Allen 5 pts

Dear Melanie

Thanks so much for noticing my dodgy link address, I have edited it to read correctly. How 'Irish' of me!!!!

x

I'll put the kettle on if you bring the biscuits to www.irishcraftworker.typepad.com ( http://www.irishcraftworker.typepad.com )

Mistress Of The Dorkness 5 pts

I was lucky enough to enjoy my first trip to Ireland about a year ago... just to try to be a help, I couldn't paste the url you typed, so i'm repasting what I must assume is the correct one... http://irishcraftworker.typepad.com/

Like sounds a little hectic for you, but, that is when it's the most fun!

My (english) husband and I eloped about 6 weeks ago, so next year we'll be going to Ireland to renew our vows in the presence of all of his family. This time we'll be taking my son with us. He's 3, and amazing well-behaved on a transatlantic flight. ~proud mommy~

I just love the internet... not just because I met my hubby through it, but, it's also just really neat connecting with people physically so far away that I find so much in common with.

Melanie Perry
***not all who wander are lost***
http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com

Rebecca Allen 5 pts

www.irishcraftworkder.typepad.com ( http://www.irishcraftworkder.typepad.com )

Greetings from Ireland.

Fellow bloggers, you are welcome to call into my blog based in Ireland. Pop in for a chat, I'll put the kettle on if you bring the biscuits!

I love visiting worldwide blogs, especially those of other mothers and craftworkers.

Rebecca x

Jacqueline Wales 5 pts

Mothers of the world unite. Don't you just love that we (thanks to the internet) live on a planet that is small enough to connect us. I have lived in many countries as an expat and raised my children to be Third Culture Kids which has its pros and cons. As an expat Mom it was hard to develop a life beyond the school and the community I belonged to because of language difficulties. But my kids did great with language and culture. Today we are once again Stateside and they miss Europe. My last child is finally the American she was born to be, which is good and bad in New York City. However, what we cherish the most is that my two daughters are American, my son is English, my step-daughter is Thai and I'm a Scot, my husband is American and we are able to embrace all kinds of cultures and claim them as our own. Been there, done that philosphy rules. Moms in Europe and elsewhere need coaxing into the greater community which is very much an American philosophy. Suzanne, if you can't find what you are looking for, start your own version, online or in the community. There are loads of women out there who are feeling the same way but don't know how to connect. Be bold. You'll find what you're looking for.

Fearless Fifties - Dare to be.....Courageous.

Supporting women to be the best they can be in the best years of their lives!

Link Text ( http://www.jacquelinewales.com )

CityMama 5 pts

Interested parties can find them as a subset of my Bloglines blogroll here:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/citymama

Folder is called (Middle East/War bloggers).

Stefania Pomponi Butler
Contributing Editor, Arts & Entertainment, BlogHer

I blog:
Link Text ( http://citymama.com )CityMama
Link Text ( http://kimchimamas.typepad.com )Kimchi Mamas

prlinkbiz 5 pts

Although I didn't blog while my kids were littler, I learned by trial and error a lot about the internet as a stay at home mom. Now, I have been able to turn my internet skills, while there is always more to learn, into money- which allows me continue to be a stay at home mom as mine get older, and now I find myself alone. The internet not only connects us, through our common bonds of being women, parents, etc., but it has also leveled the playing field for those of us who decided to stay at home - we can still make money and a life! lol

"I believe the key is for women to not set any limits." No Limits Ladies. ( http://www.nolimitsladies.com )

fritz 5 pts

That's a fabulous topic, I for one have been very grateful for all the American mommyblogs.

However I've been looking for German mommyblogs and can't find a lot. I don't know, if this is interesting from a BlogHer perspective, since almost everything on BlogHer is bound to be in English so that everybody can understand.

But since there are German BlogHers, this seems to be the right place to ask, "Any other German mommybloggers out there?"

(Maybe I should start a new forum topic. Feel free to tell me to move my comment elsewhere.)

I'm blogging at Diapers and Music ( http://susannefritzsche.blogspot.com ) and Windeln und Musik ( http://windeln-und-musik.blogspot.com ). Same blog, different languages.

Mary Tsao 5 pts

"He is my little finger, the tip of my nose, the ventricle of my heart."

That is so right. Love how she has expressed that.

Mary
BlogHer Contributing Editor, Mommy & Family ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/mommy-family )
Mom Writes ( http://marytsao.blogspot.com )