By Kirsten van der Poel
As a mother of a 2-year-old son, I have had some challenges to face transitioning into this new role. The sense of responsibility and intense love was, and still is, overwhelming. I am grateful for the solid support system around me: my partner, family, friends, and parents-in-law. I can talk to them and share my challenges or ask for help, if needed. As I was born and raised in the Netherlands, I also have the added benefit of knowing my way around the system.
Redefining me
When I became a mom, I switched careers and moved from working full time in a corporate environment to freelance work in the social and non-profit sector. I had the luxury to really take the time to rediscover myself and ease into this new version of me – as a mom and as a professional. I often found myself wondering how I would have done this in an unfamiliar country, away from my family and support network.
Realizing the extra challenges this can bring is one of the reasons I reached out to Najuan Daadleh, the program founder and director of Parenting across Borders and offered my help. I wanted to support other parents in their journey and help them take an active part in creating a support network for international parents to enhance their confidence (if needed) in their parenthood role. Hopefully, by attending our dialogue sessions, parents can connect with other international parents and realise they are not alone.
Working for Parenting across Borders
I have worked for Parenting across Borders for 1,5 years now. My work involves preparing and facilitating dialogue groups, strategic planning, and promoting our work among professionals in Utrecht. It has been an inspiring and meaningful experience so far – witnessing the mothers’ desire to belong to a supportive community and the positive effects it has.
In a short period of time, I have seen Parenting across Borders evolve. It is rewarding to be part of a small team, mostly mothers with young children, meeting regularly between our busy schedules. We all have our own interests and qualities and do our best to serve the community. Despite our different personal, cultural, and professional backgrounds, we all have the same motivation to support other international parents. As we are growing, there are plenty of opportunities to develop as a team member and room to share your ideas and thoughts.
Would you like to learn more about working for Parenting across Borders? Do not hesitate to contact me: kirsten@parentingacrossborders.nl
