Being a first-generation parent who migrates, how do you adapt, integrate, assimilate into a new daily reality?? Transitioning into a space where you are learning, where you have to adapt to a new way of living and finding your own space in a new reality can be confusing.  How do people act and do things in their new environment, from a geographical viewpoint? A lifestyle viewpoint? Are they family orientated? Do they put children first? Are they close knit families? What is your parenting style? Are you constantly being told “this is how we do it here?”  Feeling inadequate or confused about your own parenting views?

When a person migrates, there are going to be influences that may make them question their identity. People migrate for different reasons, some by choice and others with no choice. Adapting to a new environment can be challenging. Dealing with culture shock, new values and belief systems and finding your way in a new place, city or nation. Whatever reason you move for, finding your way can cause emotional and behavioral challenges.

Stepping into a new unknown can be confusing for an adult, and it takes time to adjust. Being a parent is in itself a transition, as a migrant parent, with childcare as a concern, it can be a bigger change. Learning of a new culture and adapting to a new way of being. What do you take with you of your culture and your identity and what do you leave behind? What do the children take with them of yours and their heritage and how much and when do you teach them of your values system and your rituals and traditions, your own history? Do your morals and ethics become put aside? Are they inline or in opposition to where you find yourself? How do children adopt this into their reality? and do they accept this as part of their heritage and assimilate this into their identity?

Written and designed by Ann Elisabeth Seach.