I'm raising my 4 kids in Spain. I've become a less controlling parent here.
Raising four children in Spain changed how I parent. I give my kids more freedom to explore, solve problems, and participate in public life.
The author has four children in Barcelona, Spain. In Spain, children are part of public life, which has allowed the author to raise her kids with more freedom. Initially, the author tried to control every aspect of her children's lives, but it quickly became overwhelming. She read many parenting books but found that survival was all she could achieve.
When the author became pregnant with twins, her life became even more chaotic, with four children to manage. Despite her best efforts, no plan ever worked perfectly. The author describes various situations where her children faced challenges, such as meltdowns, diaper blowouts, and tantrums. As she became more comfortable with the idea of letting her children be more independent, she noticed positive changes in her children's confidence and ability to cooperate with one another.
The author also observed that children in Spain are seen and interacted with by other adults more frequently than in the US. She credits the Spanish social life for helping her raise her kids with more independence.
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