Raising children in two cultures

When I got pregnant I first whished for a boy. For me as a Swedish woman raised with values of equality between the genders and origin, it just seemed too hard to rais a girl in Italy where everything is still so separated female and male. And in this era of social media, selfies and beauty fixation it frightened me to have to deal with a female teenager... But of course, I got two girls at the same time!! And now I would never wish for different. We're going to have a challenging time before us but I really hope I'll succeed in raising two self-confident, open and humble world citizens! And I'm very glad that they have the opportunity to experience both the Italian and the Swedish school system. Hopefully, it will give them good insight.

Already at two years, you notice a lot of differences. After 4 months of daycare in Sweden, where they're outdoors playing every day, despite the weather, and the best clothes are tracksuit and slip socks, now they are dressed equally as all the other girls in a pink apron ( the boys, of course, are blue) with shoes playing inside all day.... Good thing we have a big olive grow to run around in after school!

Also, the opening hours are very different. Our daycare in Sweden is open 6.00-19.00 so you can decide which hours to leave your child depending on your work hours. Here in Sardinia, you have to leave your child at 8.30-9.00 and pick them up at 16.00-16.30, which practically doesn't allow you to have a full-time job...

Anyway, as the Swedish mum I am I've at least found alternative aprons on the net and ordered one yellow, and one red, let's see what the teachers say! But since my girls are practically identical, they should at least appreciate being able to distinguish them!