Motherhood changes everything. That’s for sure. It’s a blessed roller coaster, the best breakthrough of my life. That said, becoming an immigrant mother in a foreign country is an extra loop in the roller coaster.
- I’ve become an expert on things I’ve never imagined I’d do in my life. The feeling of skiing having a rope attached to my body, on the other side of the rope, a wagon with my baby inside is indescribable. It’s like I’m Wonder Woman. I can do that!! I can do anything. I feel super powerful.
- I’m free to be the mother I want. Though I really miss the support network I’d get in Brazil. In Norway, I am free of judgements and rules attached to my culture.
- Bonding with Norway. I feel much more the sense of belonging and gratitude to the Norwegian country as my child was born here. It’s her country. My love for Norway has grown.
- So many doors have opened for me since I became a mother in Norway. It looks like people see me with pink eyes. I have the moms group that have helped me a lot with the maternity stuff. Norway is a family friendly country. Actually even more: it’s a family oriented culture. I feel more included and appreciated now as a mom.
- I experience motherhood in such a deep and natural way that I feel stronger. The birth was natural, humanised, without drugs or pain killers. I had to prepare myself for that, listen to my body, prepare it. I would hardly ever have the same opportunity in my homeland. No nannies, no help. The relationship you build with your child is intense and unique. I love it. Though it can be tiring too.
Now some of your questions.
Have you abdicated to your culture and language? Not really. I manage to speak only my language of origin when I speak directly to my child. Norwegians are very cool about bilingualism.
What do you miss the most? My family. I’m sorry that my child can’t get pampered by the grandparents and cousins.
What have you suffered? Actually, I have been lucky and I have found support in friends when my family is not around.
What are you grateful for? My group of mothers. They are not only supportive and nice, but fun to be with.
Adapting to a new culture, rules, system, is quite challenging for a new born mother. See my post about giving birth in Norway here.
Follow my Instagram for more about my life in Norway. Click here
Do you feel exhausted? Yes, but I feel happy too. It’s rewarding. Doing absolutely everything by myself (and with my husband) when it comes to child care makes me feel like Wonder Woman. Though no one is perfect, I’ve learned to trust in people outside my family, in case of need.
Do you feel like a Norwegian? My love for Norway has become bigger after I became a mother here. The whole pregnancy and birth was a good experience for us. Integrating myself to the Norwegian society also became easier not that I am a mom.