Parenting

I'm a bit late for this post and early in the parenting world, but here is out experience until now.

We are a mixed EU family with a 2 year old kid, we each speak our native language with the kid and English with each other. It's a interesting setup, but it works for now.

The child has dual citizenship and we try to visit the other half of the family as much as possible, as well as speak to them via WhatsApp.

He's to small to understand things like culture and customs, but my wife and I are pretty passionate about these things so I think in time he will catch on to it. We also have tons of books in both languages, so we're reading him the stories that both parents grew up with.

We can't control to what nation he will feel closest, but we can show him his roots, family and national history.

It pains me to see a drink on a laptop; and why do they need two cameras on a map?

Who takes these stock photos?

I can't speak as a parent, but as someone whose parents entitled me to duel nationality I've found myself very grateful.

After the Britain left the EU my other EU passport entitled me to continue moving round the EU without limits, free Uni, etc.

The increased freedom and backup home country in case of disaster is really powerful so definitely worth it IMO.

As for retaining ties, it's hard not to settle in one country but having family you can stay with in either country makes things far easier.

Also make sure to teach your children both languages if you can, I found it helped develop my multi cultural interest and made it far easier to learn more languages later.

I wouldn't worry too much about retaining ties with both countries. The kids can't grow up in both countries equally - I mean they could but that wouldn't be good for development imho - and you as a parent will simply have to accept that only one country will be the kid's home.

I mean, by all means take them there and let them see their family etc. but don't make it a task, don't have expectations that you can somehow balance things out.

As you said: let them have a passive nationality in their back pocket.

Greetings,
somebody whose parents had that same notion, but tried to force it.

PS: about learning the language, the current consensus amongst child development professionals is that each parent should speak their own language with the kid.

They'll get the ties to your country through you, like all immigrant and first-gen kids do. They'll just be closer to the culture they live in. Speak your native language, feed them traditional food from your country, show them music or movies from your country, things like that. Take them on trips to visit your country, if that's doable. I'm first-generation Canadian with Portuguese parents and through things like that, I've always felt Portuguese. Definitely more Canadian, but also Portuguese.

It's just a piece of paper it doesn't literally change their personality like some kind of anime trope. Jesus.