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my motherhood tokyo

advice and inspiration from an american mother in japan

  • PREGNANCY + CHILDBIRTH IN JAPAN
    • pregnant in japan
    • preparing for birth
    • my pregnancy updates
    • Recommended Caregivers in the Tokyo Area
  • MOTHERHOOD
    • baby led weaning
    • babywearing
    • Asahi’s baby updates
    • mental health
    • favorite products
  • BREASTFEEDING
  • LIFE IN TOKYO WITH KIDS
    • out and about with baby
    • Travel with baby
  • ABOUT ME

Breastfeeding

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✨The nights are long but the years are short ✨ A different time, but the same farmers market. So much has changed in the last year since we took that second photo (⬅️swipe left). On that trip, Asahi was about 7 months old, only just starting to crawl, not eating solid foods, nursing day in and day out, and cosleeping with me! He was such a little guy 😭 This trip he’s eating his weight in berries and barbecued salmon, running all over the place, and only wanting to sleep in his travel crib! (He’s still asking to nurse any time he’s bored, nervous, or slightly hungry though 😂) Even on the longest of the long nights, we somehow made it until morning light. Another chance, another opportunity, for our bond to grow. Another year full of love (the frustrated kind and the giggly kind!) What’s the biggest change for your bub in the last year? • • • Baby sling is by @pikimama_official ❤️ #oneyearlater #toddlermom #lookingback #olympiafarmersmarket #boymom #babywearingmama #pikimamasling #pikimama #jetsetbaby
Happy Father’s Day to our Papa 🥰 We don’t get to spend as much time with you as we would like, but the time we do get to spend is incredibly special. You make so many things possible for our international family and we are eternally grateful. We can’t wait to meet you in LA next weekend ❤️ • • • #happyfathersday #ourpapa #dontforgetdads #パパの日
✨conflicting emotions ✨ Living in japan, I often get asked If I miss living in America. The short answer is, it’s complicated. There are so many things I miss about living in the US, the number one thing being family. Especially now that I’m a parent, I feel this one so much harder. I envy people who’s immediate family lives 20 minutes away and they can go over for weekend brunch or leave bub with grandma for a date night. It’s just so much different when it’s YOUR mom vs someone else’s mom isn’t it? What else do I miss? Mexican food, Trader Joe’s, being able to read all the labels and talk to nearly everyone I meet. The ease of living in a society who’s norms you were raised with. There is a comfort there. The freedom for people to be who they want to be, wear what they want to wear, and the fact that they generally do it instead of being systemically encouraged to follow the rest of the crowd. The fact that people actually speak up and say their opinion. The support for LGBTQ+ people in general society. But for some reason when I look at this flag, I am reminded of things I don’t miss. The small mindedness (although japan has that too), the violence, the hate, the divisiveness surrounding issues such as gun control, the fact that kids go to school with legitimate concern for their safety. The president who is making a fool out of our country to the rest of the world. When someone asks me where I’m from in Japan, the fact that I have to mumble something about being American and hope they don’t judge me for it as if my birth place is something I can control. How do you feel when you see your home country’s flag? Are you proud or are you conflicted? • • • #countrypride #america #unitedstates #expat #americanexpat #expatjapan #homeforthesummer #expatinjapan #proudtobeanamerican #exceptnotreally
✨now that’s one happy kid✨ I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on parents to buy a lot of things for their kids. In some ways it reminds me of “helicopter parenting” where people control and protect their child at any given moment. All the toys have to be developmentally appropriate, the perfect size, color, and promise to help your child learn and grow some type of way. Although I’m not against toys by any means, I sometimes feel that toys and baby gadgets in general are meant to parent them so you don’t have to. Entertain them so you don’t have to engage. ✨I am guilty of it, especially at home, where I have a million chores to do and not much time to sit and stack Duplo even if I wanted to. For me, going outside is a break from the pressures of my responsibilities at home. I can’t do any chores while we are at the park! 😆 ✨Because of that, we go to the park pretty much every day in Tokyo and it’s been the same since we’ve been in the US. Asahi LOVES being outside so it’s never hard to convince him to go out. We’ve been loving this local park in downtown Chewelah with its little creek and fountain to play in. Far more entertaining than any toy we own, that’s for sure ❤️ ✨What role do toys play in your parenting? Would love to know your thoughts on this! • • • #attachmentparenting #outdoorkids #summertime #fountain #waterplay #conciousparenting #kidtoys #smalltownwashington #getoutside #getoutsideandplay #boymom #toddlermom #japaneseboy #hafu #lifeinamerica #happykid
Today was a win because it’s the first day that Asahi didn’t ask to nurse except before his nap and bedtime! 🙌 Every child reacts differently to new places and new people. For Asahi, the breast is his safe place. It’s the cozy spot that never changes, no matter where we are. Even though I get frustrated sometimes with his insistence on nursing what seems like all the time, I’m happy I was able to give him that comfort he desired in the way he desired it. It’s day 6 of our trip and things are starting to settle back down to normal as far as our routine goes, thank goodness! If you’re traveling with your little one this summer, be prepared for them to nurse or seek comfort in you more than usual. Remember that you are their rock, their safe space. A place to regroup, reflect, and get ready to take on the next new experience. It’s draining being someone else’s charging station, but it’s so so worth it! You got this 💪 • • • #honestmotherhood #travelwithbaby #travelwithkids #breastfeedingmama #toddlernursing #normalizebreastfeeding #travelnursing #mymotherhood #summervacation #nursling #boymom #toddlermom #comfortnursing
File under: things you don’t see in Tokyo! 😆 • • • #onthefarm #farmlife #beebeecar #firsttruck #farmtruck #ford #summervacation #gonecountry #boymom #toddlermom #toddlerboy

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