5 disadvantages of children born in diaspora
Are there really disadvantages of children born in diaspora?
There is a popular saying that whatever has an advantage also has a disadvantage. It is very possible that there are some disadvantages.
Raising your children outside your country has many advantages. For example, if you are a citizen of a third-world country but you decide to raise your kids in a first-world country.
This offers your kids a chance at a better education, good health care facilities, and other social and economic benefits.
Every parent aspires for a better and greater future for their kids. As parents, we work extremely hard for ourselves but most importantly, we put in more effort in order to give our kids a better life.
A lot of parents who raise their kids outside the country just want a better life for them. This is a good act, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
The problem arises when the laws or rules in the new country clash with the cultural standards.
I have heard a lot of parents complain about one particular issue; they complain that there is a very thin line between correcting a child and child abuse.
Is this a disadvantage or an advantage? Find out more in the course of this article.
5 disadvantages of children born in diaspora
- It quite difficult to teach them about their culture
Most foreigners who leave their country need to work 3-4 jobs to ensure that they can pay their bills. You pay bills for electricity, network connection, water, gas, and everything.
This might be completely unacceptable different from the country you came from. Where you pay for things when you need them and have the money to make your purchase.
While trying to meet ends means and ensure that they are living comfortably. Most parents forget to teach their kids about their culture and traditions.
For example, in Nigeria, people have high regard for titles. Outside the country you can greet people more elderly than you with a hello and hi (Hello Mrs. Hannah, Hi Mr. Joe).
In some parts of Nigeria, this will be seen as a sign of disrespect.
Make it a priority to teach your kids the culture of their homeland.
This will protect the unsuspecting children from embarrassment when they decide to return to the country.
- Children raised outside the country are influenced by their environment
You don’t raise your child in Rome and expect them to behave like Americans.
It doesn’t work that way, except you want to home school them.
The environment you reside in will definitely affect the way a child speaks, behaves and in extreme cases, it can affect their reasoning.
Before moving to a completely different area try to conduct research about the place. If you find out a particular trait or character, they exhibit but you don’t want to see in your kids.
I honestly think you should consider looking for another place.
Everywhere on earth has some characteristics that you may not like. However, it is your responsibility to choose which particular trait or attribute is manageable.
Always remember that it is easier to make choices when your kids are younger. As they grow older, the need to make their own decisions heightens.
The environment you live in affects you and your kids as well. It can be positive or negative, make the positive choice for your kids while they are still young.
- Most kids may refuse to return to their homeland
Most kids might grow older to realize that they aren’t citizens of the country they live in.
This might be upsetting to some children. With the help of the internet, they may search for their country to see if it’s better.
If they currently live in a first-world country but see that their homeland is a third-world country. The truth is not all children might be happy about this.
Don’t get mad or upset with them.
This is a natural feeling that everyone especially teenagers will feel.
It is better that you teach them about their homeland from a very young age. If they already know the basics from an early age, the hurt or disappointment will be minimal.
A lot of kids may refuse to return back to their homeland.
This may sound funny or casual but it can be extreme in some cases.
Some kids may hurt themselves or run away because they do not want to return back to their homeland.
- Little to no relationship with family members
It’s hard to keep up with most family members when you stay in the same country.
If you are separated by oceans and seas, how exactly do you stay connected?
Thanks to social media we can connect with our families. However, not everyone has a smartphone or really knows how to use it.
It is quite different when kids physically see their family members than having a relationship built on social media.
- Inability to speak their mother tongue
Most parents outside the country are doing their best to ensure that their kids can speak their dialect.
This is a general problem within and outside the country.
Parents fail to teach their kids their mother tongue and could be due to a very busy schedule.
However, some parents cannot speak their dialect therefore they see no reason why they should teach their kids.
If you cannot speak your dialect, hire a teacher!
Conclusion
If you have the resources to raise your kids outside the country especially if you stay in a third-world country.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, you will need to put in extra work, time, and spend money to ensure that your kids learn about their homeland.
If they have a proper understanding of the culture of your motherland and you can speak your mother tongue. Then you can tutor them without spending extra money.
Some families have done this and it has been very effective. Try to create a little space for culture grooming time.
