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Upcoming Inspiring Expat Parents across the world (part 2)

Global parents who value community and family bonding across borders (part 2)

By: Anieke Lamers

A little while ago we posted this blog article with inspiring parents across the world. After we posted the article, we received many more replies and some of them were so nice we didn’t want to keep them from the world. 

So here is the sequel: Are you looking for more inspiration and a community of expat parenting tips on connecting with family members abroad? Look no further, because we found inspiring parents for you to check out on Instagram.

Why you should read this article?

It’s not easy being a parent, and especially when you have a family far away with little social support from loved ones, it can sometimes be extra difficult. It is therefore needed to get some inspiration, playfulness, and encouraging words from other expat parents who are going through the same things as you are. You are not alone!

At Peekabond, we’re all about connection. We found expat parents from all over the world who align with these values and found a number of “hidden gems” who we consider as the next up-and-coming Expat Parent influencers. 

We asked them about why family bonding is important to them, especially when family is at a distance, and their quotes really gave us goosebumps and we hope they strike home for you too.

When we asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Tissa O’Grady
(3 months old, 2 & 11 year-old children)
@tissaogrady
 
Tissa’s Quote:

Family is so incredibly important in the raising of children. They have so much wisdom and so many amazing stories to share. Unfortunately, when separated by distance a lot of these wonderful experiences and memories together can be limited. Despite living on a continent away from family, my children love to maintain a warm relationship with them. They send photos, call on the phone, write letters, and send little packages to one another. I love making parents aware of all the wholesome things we can do to engage our children in this world.

Why we like her:

Tissa is a mom that is aware of just how important it is to keep the connection between family members, especially those that live far away. It is important for her that her children know her roots and can listen to stories told by their loved ones. She loves keeping connected through video calls and by keeping in touch the old-fashioned way–writing letters! 

Tissa is an expat living in Mexico and is passionate about nature.  She loves sharing recipes, healthy cooking, and traditional Mexican food. She is very engaged with Mexican culture and loves showing the beauty of the country, which is something that we love at Peekabond! Tissa is also a healer and uses natural recipes for curing certain ailments. For example, she showed us a recipe for curing a fever that she uses with her kids. Tissa feels very connected with nature and loves exploring all that Mexico has to offer. She hopes to teach her kids the same energy and love for Mexico that she has.

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Tania Capel
(7-month-old child)
@african.abroad.blog
 
Tania’s Quote:

The reasons why I find it important to foster a bond with my family back in Kenya while I am in Germany is for my son to understand his heritage, where he comes from, his cultural background, and to have a good and trusting relationship with my family. You have probably heard the African phrase: “It takes a village to raise a child.” I want my son to feel a sense of community that has his back. 

Why we like her:

Tania is a mom that wants her children to keep connected with their heritage and African culture. She shared a beautiful quote: “It takes a village to raise a child.” This is such a powerful message for us. It is true that part of who we are comes from the things we learn in our daily environment, but who we are is also influenced by where we come from. For Tania, it is important for her kids to keep their beautiful African culture even though they live in Germany. We highly recommend keeping an eye on this profile. It is full of tips for raising kids and has a lot of cultural and valuable information about Tania’s home country. Tania also shares typical food, beautiful quotes, nature, animals, and lots of info on being an expat. We love this beautiful mom!

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Adrienne Olivia
(8 & 5-year-old children)
@america2portugal
 
Adrienne’s Quote:

Building a connection from afar is important to keep our kids grounded and remember those that may not be close. Knowing they have family far away who care about them is really important.

Why we like her:

Adrienne is a wonderful American mom living in Portugal. From food to nature to historical monuments, Adrienne loves getting involved with everything Portugal has to offer. She also loves to travel around the world with her family and shares all about her trips!

Adrienne is a mom of two boys–we love their costumes and matching pictures in her profile. This always gives us a giggle!

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Baileigh Levée
(12, 10, and 6-year-old children)
@poursouthernmama
 
Baileigh’s Quote:

At the end of the day, family is all you have. I think remembering your family is special and normal and not comparing them to others is so important.

Why we like her:

Baileigh is a cool mom. She makes funny videos of the daily struggles of being a mom while dealing with a husband and kids. Some may even call her a superhero. She shares insights about life as an expat parent (trying to have a social life while raising your beautiful kids is not for the faint of heart) and daily routine tips for staying organized at home. 

Baileigh and her family travel all around the world thanks to the military. We think this is a wonderful and brave lifestyle at Peekabond and we encourage these families who want to keep their roots and share their American culture with their kids. Baileigh’s blog is full of funny stories where she shares everything from her travels to experiences with her family. You may even stumble across a yummy recipe or playlist to jam. Be sure to check it out!

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Bec de Jager
( 3-year-old & 10-month-old children)
@teachingwithanaccent
 
Bec’s Quote:

Family is what there is when everything else falls apart. They are your safe space and your biggest cheerleaders. Plus, they give the best hugs!

Why we like her:

Bec is a teacher who lives in South Africa. She knows firsthand the struggles of being an expat but has a good sense of humor about it. Bec has a funny approach to some of the problems we encounter on a daily basis and shares tips about her experiences in education. This is definitely a profile worth checking out!

Bec’s children are the most important in her life. For her, family is a safe space where all the beautiful people in your life are by your side, even in dark times. She also loves sharing pictures of her kids. We love seeing their smiling faces!

Bec is passionate about art, recipes, and books. Check out her highlighted stories for some great recommendations!

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Savannah Mackie
(5-month-old & 2-year-old children)
@savannah_mackie
 
Savannah’s Quote:

Family is so important. They are the most important people in my life and I want their influence in my children’s lives. We live in Zambia and have immediate family in America, South Africa, and the United Kingdom that we connect with frequently.

Why we like her:

Savannah is a sweet mom of two boys and loves to share the culture of Zambia with others. She is appreciative of Zambia’s rich culture and loves exploring everything Zambia has to offer with her family. Savannah likes to follow a healthy lifestyle. She grows her own food and has her own cloth diaper company with lots of cute designs to choose from. 

Savannah and her family are Christian and are part of a local church planting movement called The Zambia Project. The vision of the Zambia Project is to establish a life-giving church within walking distance of every person in the Western Province and to see all villages impacted by the Gospel and uplifted through a strong Christiam community. Savannah is a caring woman that we really admire.

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Khadijah Kdee
(1-year-old child)
@khadiva_dee
 
Khadijah’s Quote:

Family is our backbone. It takes a village to raise a child. My family was there for me when I was a child and I want them to be there for my daughter too. 

We are also a very spontaneous family. My daughter is a goofball and has facial expressions for every emotion!

Why we like her:

Khadijah loves God and her family. She is an artist and shows the amazing love and connection she has with them in her pictures. Khadijah is also an entrepreneur and runs a fashion clothing brand called KhaDiva Customs which offers unique, fashionable designs with an interesting twist.

We really admire Khadijah and the way she raises her beautiful daughter. Her values shine through in everything that she does.

Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with family?
Hira Malin
(4 & 2-year-old children)
@hira.malin

 

Hira’s Quote:

It is important for me to help my children bond with my family because I believe it encourages better behavior in kids. We are an expat and multicultural family. 

Why we like her:

Hira comes from a multicultural family. She loves to travel and to show her kids the world. She believes it is important to learn from new cultures and to open yourself to new places and people. She hopes to pass this idea to her family through their shared experiences.

Hira also maintains an active lifestyle. She believes that it is important for the development and health of her children and loves introducing them to new sports and activities. Hira shares lots of tips on how to travel with kids. We love the pictures she posts of all of her travels!

To Conclude:

At Peekabond, we value connection through playfulness, openness, and being ethical. We aim to provide:

  1. Inspiration: At Peekabond we’re all about inspiration and we believe these influencers could provide inspiration from unexpected corners (of the world) to get you through the day, be playful and see how they share about their little ones.
  2. Community: not only are we all about connecting families within their own circles, but we are also building a community where our customers can inspire others (for example by letting parents inspire other parents).

Are you inspired and do you want to create memories and build meaningful relationships with your faraway family and loved ones? Download our app here: www.peekabond.com/try-peekabond

About Anieke:

Anieke is the Founder and CEO of Peekabond. Anieke is an ex-Venture Capital investor having worked on impact investments and consumer tech deals for the past 8 years of her career. Anieke founded Peekabond from a personal passion because she is an aunt of a 3 year old niece in Australia. She immediately began searching for alternative ways to bond remotely with her little niece. But she couldn’t find a real solution, so she made it her mission to create the best digital platform possible. To build beautiful bonds across generations, continents, and cultures. To connect with or follow Anieke click here 

Join Us at Peekabond

Peekabond is an interactive video messaging app designed for young children to connect with family at a distance. Use our fun and age-appropriate activity cards as inspiration to send video messages to young grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Create, share, and safely store playful moments with your family and friends. Perfect for parents who want their kids to create memories with far away family members and friends. If you would like to try Peekabond click here

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3 Tips for the Ultimate Holiday Rest for Expat Parents

3 Tips for the ultimate holiday rest for expat parents

By: Anieke Lamers

The other day I saw this quote: “No parent needs a vacation as much as the parent who has just had one”  and it made me giggle. 

Holidays are made to relax and rest, but many parents return from their holidays exhausted. Every parent knows that setting up a bedtime routine, eating and drinking the right things at the right time, and making your child comfortable are important. Those are no-brainers. Duhh! But during the holidays, all these routines go out the window.

We hope this article will give practical tips on how to rest during your vacation when you’re a traveling parent.

What happens when routines are broken: Error! - bzzt - child brain not functioning

Hey parent, recognize this? When families with young children are traveling you don’t have your own bed, the standard bedtime routines are broken and there are fewer breaks from kids and lots of activities. Or something else that happens is for example that as an expat parent maybe you try to visit family but you end up exhausted because everything is out of your control and out of the environment your kids are used to. Result: your kids get more cranky. You get tired and overwhelmed and ask yourself: wait what happened?! This holiday was supposed to be relaxing and fun, right? 

We asked some experts in our network, and there are a few tips we can offer that could help.  We made the top 3 pro tips to get the ultimate sleep and rest this summer holiday for yourself as well as for your child. or adults as well as for young children there are some tips to rest better:

Tip 1. Stay as close to their bedtime routine, while remembering it’s a holiday too!

If your normal routine before putting the kids to bed is brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and reading a book (and in that order!), it’s recommended to stick to that order even when you’re out of your normal environment. The time they go to bed might change, but the events before bedtime are recommended to stay the same.

The reason why children tend to put up a fight before the bedtime routine is because they recognize a pattern “aha! It’s time to brush my teeth now which ends up with me being separated from my pack”. Separation can give children anxiety and even more so when you’re in a strange environment. If you build in a moment of connection and bonding in the bedtime routine, it’s a holiday for them too. For example, let your child relax before bedtime by reading a relaxing story or if you happen to forget to bring a storybook on your holiday, come up with your own story

A funny quote I saw the other day was: “no human alive cares more about hydration than a child past its bedtime”. This made me think of how I as a child also negotiated with my parents a lot trying all tricks in the book to stay up just a little longer. Bedtime routines set boundaries and help you avoid lengthy negotiations. 

Pro-tip number 1:

Play a game to make tooth brushing easier by pretending there is a dinosaur in your child’s mouth that needs to be “brushed” away. Dr. Becky at Good Inside gives a great example of this in this story on Instagram. 

Pro-tip number 2:

Let your child watch one or two videos from family at a distance in the Peekabond app whilst brushing their teeth, but don’t let them bring electronics into the bedroom. 

Pro-tip number 3 for adults:

Keep regular sleep and wake times; you can for example also set an alarm to go to bed (not just one to wake up). 

Tip 2. Make it comfy

 We all know it’s important to give your child a cozy sleeping area where they feel safe at night.  My little niece for example has pictures on the wall in her bedroom of all our family and her mom reminds her how much we love her and that we watch over her while she sleeps. 
 
Pro-tip number 1:

Before going on a holiday, check if it’s going to be too noisy or if the room will have the right light conditions your child is used to. Some children like to sleep with familiar sounds, like white noise. Others like to sleep with a small socket night light. These are easy items to bring along and help your child feel at home.

Pro-tip number 2:

Children also love the familiar smell of their favorite stuffed animal or blanket so we suggest that when you’re on a holiday to bring those along.

Pro-tip number 3:

Bring a small sample or jar of the same washing detergent you have at home so your child’s clothes smell the same when you wash them on your holiday. When you’re visiting family you can even leave the detergent for grandparents or relatives to use so your child feels at home.

Pro-tip number 4 for adults:

We invite you to invest in and sleep with a great sleeping mask as well as earplugs. Especially during holidays where you’re sleeping in a different environment and you don’t know if there are blackout curtains and what noise pollution you might encounter, this makes the relatively small investment worthwhile! A restful parent makes a better parent. 

Tip 3. Eat the right amount at the right time.

A funny thing I learned while traveling in South America was: “don’t eat too much meat during dinner, or you’ll be sleeping with Tarzan”. In certain cultures, it is customary to eat dinner at later hours and with all the nice cuisine it’s tempting to indulge but be aware; before you know it you’ll be awake at night with your stomach rumbling like Tarzan. The same holds true for our children; during holidays the routines can get lost, and you end up with a hangry, tired child which is no fun for anyone right? Especially when you’re traveling to other time zones, it can be very challenging with young children. 

Pro-tip number 1:

Go in peace, bearing snacks. It might be worthwhile to bring your child’s favorite snack, such as biscuits so at least the first couple of days they have some food that is the same as at home. I remember when I went backpacking through Sout-East Asia I ran into a couple that was also backpacking with their young baby and they were carrying one extra backpack filled with a month’s supply of their baby’s food. I thought it was a bit extreme but in hindsight, the stress of finding the right food for their child might have been more stressful than just bringing it along. 

Pro-tip number 2:

Keep naps to a norm. Especially when traveling to different time zones it’s challenging to adjust for young children. Your child’s biological clock might say it’s dinner time and evening when it’s still morning and daytime. It’s wise to keep them busy in a sunny room or play outside as much as you can and keep naps to a norm.   

Pro-tip number 3:

An obvious tip is to try to stay hydrated and consume enough vitamins during your (summer) break. It’s tempting to spoil yourself with unhealthy food and an alcoholic drink or too, but don’t forget to drink enough water especially when you’re in the sun a lot. It’s wise to bring some vitamin C supplements to make sure your bodies get what they need to stay healthy (and avoid getting sick on a holiday). 

Do you want your child to stay in touch with family and loved ones after visiting them this holiday? Or did you not get to visit them this holiday and want to be more intentional about your child’s long-distance relationship? Try out the Peekabond app for free: www.peekabond.com/try-peekabond. 

About Anieke

Anieke is the Founder and CEO of Peekabond. Anieke is an ex-Venture Capital investor having worked on impact investments and consumer tech deals for the past 8 years of her career. Anieke founded Peekabond from a personal passion because she is an aunt of a 3 year old niece in Australia. She immediately began searching for alternative ways to bond remotely with her little niece. But she couldn’t find a real solution, so she made it her mission to create the best digital platform possible. To build beautiful bonds across generations, continents, and cultures. To connect with or follow Anieke click here 

Join Us at Peekabond

Peekabond is an interactive video messaging app designed for young children to connect with family at a distance. Use our fun and age-appropriate activity cards as inspiration to send video messages to young grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Create, share, and safely store playful moments with your family and friends. Perfect for parents who want their kids to create memories with far away family members and friends. If you would like to try Peekabond click here

Read More
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Inspiring Expat Parents across the world

An overview of global parents who value community and family bonding across borders

By: Anieke Lamers

Looking for inspiration and a community of expat parenting tips on connecting with family members abroad? Look no further, because we found an overview of inspiring parents for you to check out on Instagram.

” Why is this list valuable for me as a reader? ” you may ask. Well in short: it will give you Playful Inspiration and makes you feel connected to a larger Community.

  • Inspiration: At Peekabond, we value connection through playfulness, openness, and being ethical. We looked for parents all over the world who align with these values and found a number of “hidden gems” who we consider as the next up-and-coming Expat Parent influencers.  At Peekabond we’re all about inspiration and we believe these influencers could provide inspiration from unexpected corners (of the world) to get you through the day, be playful and see how they share about their little ones. 
  • Community: not only are we all about connecting families within their own circles, but we are also building a community where our customers can inspire others (for example by letting these parents inspire other parents). We asked them about why family bonding is important to them, especially when family is far away, and their quotes really hit home for us. We made a shortlist of the best quotes we found and why we think you should check their profiles out. 

Giving children a safe network of warm family ties is what binds these parents

Since the start of Peekabond, we have been following some really nice expat parents through social media. What we’ve noticed is that it’s not easy being a parent. Especially when you have a family far away with little social support from loved ones, it can sometimes be extra difficult. It is therefore nice to get some inspiration, playfulness, and encouraging words from other expat parents who are going through the same things as you are. 

It sounds super tacky, but love is a universal language! Even though cultures, religions, backgrounds, and sexualities differ, it seems that there’s one thing that’s a common denominator: i’s the deep love and care for their children that these parents feel and that they want to give them a safe solid social network of warm family bonds that last a lifetime. Because connection can exist no matter the distance. This is illustrated by the nice quotes from them which we’d like to share with you. We asked them: 

When we asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:

Ashley Corinne 
(4 & 8 year-old children)
@thatblackfamilyabroad 
 
Ashley’s quote:

It’s important to help my children build bonds with their families because I never want them to forget where they’ve come from. I want them to be proud of their roots, and to always remember that they have people who love and support them, no matter how far away. We are having a wonderful adventure living and traveling in Mexico. 

Why we like her:  

There is a quote from Mexico that goes “True love in Mexico isn’t between lovers; it’s between a parent and a child”, and we can relate to that because Ashley’s children are so loveable!

Ashley is an adventurous mom living in Mexico of two that travels the world. She loves exposing her children to new cultures helping her children to have an open mindset to the world.

As an expat mom, she understands the importance of being connected with family abroad. From child development science theory it turns out secure attachments are very important for a child’s development, and Ashley emphasizes that beautifully in her quote below. It implies that no matter how far away you are, there will always be a safe harbor to return to. 

When we asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:

Amanda Vojvodin-Dargenio 
(8-month-old child)
@lavitaestyle
 
Amanda’s Quote: 

To learn the true meaning of love, that a connection can exist no matter the distance, and to learn firsthand the Canadian culture

Why we like her:

Our founder Anieke actually had the chance to meet Amanda and her beautiful baby during a video call and it was so nice to learn about her background and story of moving from Canada to Italy. Amanda and Anieke had a very nice connection being both entrepreneurial women,  she has a background as Marketing -and Events Manager at Hermès. She was super helpful, wanting to give feedback and test our mobile app called Peekabond. We love that Amanda wants to expose her little child to her roots and culture in Canada whilst living in Italy.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Ali Em Kay 
(2, 6, and 6-year-old children)
@mountainmama_amk
 
Ali’s quote:

It’s important for military families to have strong support networks, and that begins with extended family. Maintaining those relationships while abroad allows a child to feel safe and connected during big transitions and uncertain circumstances. We are a military family trying to take advantage of living all over the world by doing and seeing as much as we can!

Why we like her:

Ali is an amazing mom of three children with a great sense of humor who loves adventure. Her profile is full of backpacking, traveling, and funny experiences with her military family. We admire her lifestyle, and love that she makes sure her children feel connected, especially going through big transitions like moving internationally.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Kaylin
(6,4, and 1-year-old children)
@californiafitkaylin
 
Kaylin’s Quote:

Both mine & my husband’s families are an equal part of our children both biologically but also emotionally. We want them to know and feel connected to their family and learn about the different cultures that make them who they are.

We want that they to feel equally connected and familiar with the people and culture. We give them a sense of belonging and strive so they feel at home both in Sweden (where we live now and where my husband is from) as well as in America (where I am from and where my family is).  This is, of course, easier said than done. But it means making it a priority to stay connected to family that is both near and far, visit regularly as well as have regular weekly FaceTime visits.

I love that Peekabond has a forum for parents who are raising children with multiple cultures and languages! 

Why we like her:

Kaylin is from the USA, lives in Sweden, and is super passionate about raising children abroad with multiple cultures and languages. She is a lovely mom of 3 children, we love her posts about helping moms during postpartum periods and she shows us the daily experience of being a mom. Her profile is full of useful tips that help moms all over the world. What’s really great about her quote is that she has realized how important it is to realize that as an expat child of multiple cultures, it can be possible to feel at home in both countries.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Iva Ivanova
(1-year-old child)
@the.glenns.journey
 
Iva’s Quote:

My daughter is a child with dual citizenship, and it’s very important to be able to understand and be connected with both families she has. 

Being bonded with her distant family is important for me for her future development as a person, so she can understand and cherish the values of a stable and happy family! 

 
Why we like her:

Iva is a mom of a gorgeous baby and a British expat living in Dubai. At Peekabond we love her profile because it’s full of pictures of her baby Olivia, a lot of healthy and tasty food recipes, and travels that she does with her lovely family. This profile is full of amazing travel pictures and motherhood, and she understands the importance of having a stable family for a child’s development even when the family is at a distance.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was: 
Alexander Yepremian
(8-month-old child) 
@2_gays_and_a_little_lady
 
Alexander’s Quote: 

Both my husband and I come from big families, although Zara is our one and only, we would like to keep her very close to her cousins. 

We are a gay couple who met while working on a cruise ship.  Zara was our 13th out of 14 embryos….. 7 times lucky!

Why we like them:

We love the profile of these lucky dads. They have a lovely child called Zara and they love to travel and explore the world: they have traveled to 97 countries. These awesome dads are owners of a restaurant in London that serves delicious brunches. They show us their daily life with their lovely Zara and they love to keep her connected with her cousins and family, especially since Zara is an only child.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Lyndsay Cavanagh
(1 & 3 year-old children) 
@wanderlynds
 
Lyndsay’s quote:

A community and sense of belonging are valuable for everyone and significantly harder to develop in the expat world. Children especially can benefit from strong relationships with extended family. Feeling loved, cared for, and thought of by others, as well as having others to express love to, can nourish self-worth & self-esteem. I have a passion for traveling that extends into joy for sharing experiences and advice with others.

 
Why we like her:

Lindsay is an American mom living in Qatar who knows how important it is for us humans to feel a sense of community and belonging, and that it’s especially important for young children. However for expats this is sometimes easier said than done, so a bit of extra care and love is needed. She is a mother of two beautiful children. Her profile is amazing because she shows us the daily adventures of being an expat mom, how to have a healthy life, and the travels with her lovely family.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Alec Kristin Singletary
(4.5-year-old & 7-month-old children) 
@alec.singletary
 
Alec’s quote:

Being gone most of the year can make it difficult but I want my kids to know how loved they are no matter how far they may be from loved ones. I want them to know they always have a family to come “home” to.

 
Why we like her:

At Peekabond, we love the quote “Home is where the heart is”. And this matches so well with her heartfelt quote. Alec is a mom of Paxton and Koa who loves to travel. She shows us her daily adventures with her two little ones. Her profile has a lot of playful basketball pictures with her children because their dad is a basketball player. She is caring and expressing her love and cheering him on when he is away.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was: 
David Lee-Schneider
(9 & 13 year-old children) 
@davidleeschneider
 
David’s Quote:

Strong roots and relationships are the foundation for success. I believe that travel provides some of the best education in life.

Why we like him:

David is a business dad who realizes how important strong family ties and roots are for success later in life. He helps businesses and loves to travel the world with his children. His profile is full of nature and love for the planet and animals, they are also an active family that is into sports and experiences. He shows the perfect balance of work, family, and adventure! 

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Mina
(1-year-old child)
@Lifewithmina_com
 
Mina’s Quote:

Creating bonds ultimately helps social development in my child’s life. 

Why we like her:  

In Holland, there is a saying that goes like this: “love goes through the stomach”. It means that many people show their love through great food. Mina is an amazing mom living in the Netherlands and her profile is all about food and nice sugar-free child-friendly recipes! She realizes that – next to good food – strong family bonds are needed to help her child develop. We love her lifestyle and the love for her children that she shows in the pictures. We recommend following her recipes for those days when you want a healthy and tasty meal. 

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Alyse Rizzo 
(4-year-old child)
@amrizz0
 
Alyse’s Quote:

For me, it’s very important to FaceTime three times a week to keep in touch! I also have my mom or dad read to my child or set up the phone to play in the room without me present. We love our time abroad. It gives our family a chance to connect and just be together traveling the world!

Why we like her: 
Alyse is a proud mom that loves to travel, she has been to 33 different countries and has explored “34 US states”.  Whilst traveling together brings them closer together as a family, she values staying in touch with the home front. She and her family live in Barcelona (Spain) and they are an inspiration for others of what it’s like to travel with a child whilst keeping in contact with family remotely. We love her profile! 
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Liz
(2-year-old child)
@liz_abroadinchina
 
Liz’s Quote:

For me, it is especially important that we have a lot of contact with both parts of the family, especially because we don’t live close to them. Family is the most important thing not only in my culture but also in my husband’s culture. Especially in China, family is very important. We would like to pass this on to our son. 

Why we like her:

Liz is an Austrian mom living in China and indicates that family is the most important thing in both Chinese as well as in Austrian culture and she wants to pass that on to her child. In her profile, she shows culture, travel, food, and very interesting tips about living abroad. She is a mom of a 2-year-old baby and her profile is really interesting if you want to learn and explore Chinese culture including its food, markets, and hotspots with her.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Tiffany 
(3-year-old child)
@mylittlefamilyabroad

 

Tiffany’s Quote:

I have a big and very close family and being at a distance makes it difficult for my daughter to have that same feeling that I always had growing up. My first friends were my siblings and my cousins, and  I want Julianna to know her cousins when we are finally able to get together. It is important for kids to see healthy and happy family dynamics no matter how far the distance.

We are a family of 3. I am from Texas and my fiancé is from Venezuela. We currently live in Spain with our daughter. I video chat with my mom every day and my family always exchanges photos and videos.

Why we like her:

Tiffany lives in Mallorca (Spain) and is a mom of a lovely girl called Julianna. She would love to give her daughter the same experience she had growing up with loving cousins who were her first friends. She loves to travel and show us what it is like with a family, but also stays in touch with family in Texas and Venezuela. She also loves to give tips on how to enjoy Spain as much as she does. 

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Nicole Plowman
(1-year-old child)
@nicolelynnplowman
 
Nicole’s Quote:

Family is very important to us. Living so far away from my family, I want my son to have that connection when we are able to visit in person as no time has passed between visits.

Why we like her:

Nicole is a stylish American Mom living in England with a love for music, travel, and family. She made a  career in parenting and we really admire that. She understands that the most important things in life are the connections you make with others. She wants her son to feel close to the family at a distance as if they were never apart.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Amandine
(2-year-old child)
@amandinexpatfamily 
 
Amandine’s  Quote:

Because family is the foundation of everything. I’m all about simple and conscious living.

Why we like her:

Amandine is a conscious island mom, she shows us her parenting experience with her lovely 2-year-old child. One of the core values of our company Peekabond is that we value ethics and what we love about Amandine is that she is a traveler who loves nature and cares deeply for our planet.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Aerial
(1-year-old child)
@Aerial.Austin  
 
Aerial’s  Quote:

Culture for me is important. For him to know both sides of his family and their traditions and cultures is essential for his upbringing. It’s also nice for him to have a nurturing army of support. I’m an expat mom living in Budapest. My son’s father is Hungarian so we try to spend every summer in the US with my family. 

Why we like her:

Aerial, a mom of a 1-year-old,  has a  wanderlust, a strong desire to travel and explore the world. She loves food and shows us all her adventures with her family and the ups and downs about daily parenting life. It’s not easy to connect to family and traditions but she really wants her son to have that strong basis. Her baby is gorgeous and we love seeing all the nature and travel pictures that she shares. 

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Marcia
(8 & 5 year-old children)
@unaregiaporelmundo

 

Marcia’s Quote:

Because they are part of their identity, it is part of who they are. The stories and memories they can share with them together fill spaces in their hearts, and the interactions with them shape their own personality and identity. Connecting with them fills a need for belonging, knowing you belong to a bigger group than your nuclear family. It is important to know where you come from and also know you are loved by so many.

Living abroad presents difficulties, yes, but it also shapes us into who we are and we see it as a continuous adventure that has both good and not so good experiences, but we are grateful for them and we also learn from them. Our phrase as a family is “Everything is part of the adventure” and that’s how we try to live our lives. 

Why we like her: 

Everything is part of the adventure, is the mantra that Marcia’s family lives by, and when we read her quote we got goosebumps, and it just really hits home. Marcia realizes the importance of transferring family stories from one generation to the next and gives people a sense of belonging.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Nina
(3,6 and 8-year-old children)
@the_expater
 
Nina’s Quote: 

As a life coach, I know a bond is important on a cognitive level, and as a mum, the bond acts as a bridge so we can understand and respect each other more easily.

Why we like her:

Nina is a really special influencer because besides being an expat Mom, she is also an emotional supporter of expats. She is an Expat living in Uruguay that loves to travel, giving tips about building a career, and parenting. Alongside blogging, she is a life coach for women abroad. In addition, she regularly contributes to magazines on the theme of mental well-being, parenting, and building a career overseas. Her values and mission are very aligned with ours at Peekabond to help global families to build bonds in a playful and ethical way.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:   
Ivy Elkington
(5,3 and 1-year-old children)
@ivyelkington 
 
Ivy’s Quote:

Because family is so important and my kids having a relationship with them – even at a distance – helps my kids know just how loved they are! 

I love being a mum and mum life can be messy, but it’s a beautiful mess sprinkled with lots of growth!

Why we like her:

Ivy is a playful mom with 3 beautiful children, and she shares many different insights about motherhood. She knows the importance of family members and having strong bonds even when you’re far away. We love her lifestyle and the love she shows for her children. They are a beautiful family!

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was: 
Kelsey
(1 & 3 year-old children)
@amautamama 
 
Kelsey’s Quote:

It’s important for us that children remain connected with our family so that when we are able to see each other in person, it’s like we never skipped a beat. Their and our relationship with family abroad continue to bloom and flourish 

Why we like her:

Kelsey is from the USA and lives abroad in Ecuador, she is a mom of two children and she has a lot of magical gifts: being a healer and a herbalist are some of them. Kelsey loves nature and showing her adventures with her little ones. She sees the value of staying connected with family so it never feels like they missed a beat.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Julie
(7 & 5-year-old children) 
@ourexpatdiaries 

 

Julie’s Quote:

We want our children to know they are part of a strong family unit. They are loved, cared about, and they are valued, despite distances. They love to share their lives with family on a regular basis and the time we do spend together is always special.    

Why we like her:

Julie is a loving mom of two who loves to work and travel. She is an expat living in Thailand who shows us her daily life as a parent. She loves adventures and we just love the smiles on the face of her little ones whilst traveling together!

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:  
Helen Debrah-Ampofo
(7-month-old child)
@hdebrahampofo

 

Helen’s Quote:

We are so far away but family is always important.

Why we like her:

Helen is a British mom living in Dubai. She is a mom of a beautiful baby and we love her profile because she supports moms all over the world giving tips, writing interesting blogs and books, and showing us what it is like being an expat in Dubai.

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was 
Christopher Bonil
(1-month-old child)
@MrBonil 

 

Christopher’s quote:

So the child can grow up feeling loved and understand what’s truly valuable in life: family. My business was my only baby until my baby girl showed up, now I have two babies I love

Why we like him:

Christopher recently became a proud dad of a baby girl. Before that, his baby was his business. Christopher is killing it as a CEO of @capitalbrokersgroup and founder of @torontohomefinders. Christopher specializes in marketing and real estate and is a gentleman who loves to travel with style. He’s a family guy who doesn’t hide his love for his new beautiful baby daughter, and he helps people by giving tips about finances, travels, sports, food, and much more. 

When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was
Charina
(9,3 and 2-year-old children)
@mom_andtheboys

 

Charina’s Quote:

Character and values begin in the family. I want to secure these foundations for my kids and make them feel loved. This foundation will prepare them for a future of opportunities and potential. 

I am an expat and stay-at-home mom of three boys. I share my parenting tips, kids’ activities, and expat living on my blog at www.momandtheboys.com.

Why we like her:

Charina is a creative, playful, and fun mom of three boys who loves to share videos of her daily experience being an expat mom. She is a wonderful mom who cares about her kids’ education and raising them to be the best human beings they can be. Charina also loves to cook and share delicious recipes. Next to that, she writes a blog in which you can find articles from dads, moms, and printables for your kids so they can have a lot of fun being creative! If you want to give it a look, check out the link in her quote below. She wants to give her kids a balanced life between travels, education, and a lot of fun, and wants to prepare them for the challenges of life whilst always making them feel loved.

About Anieke

Anieke is the Founder and CEO of Peekabond. Anieke is an ex-Venture Capital investor having worked on impact investments and consumer tech deals for the past 8 years of her career. Anieke founded Peekabond from a personal passion because she is an aunt of a 3 year old niece in Australia. She immediately began searching for alternative ways to bond remotely with her little niece. But she couldn’t find a real solution, so she made it her mission to create the best digital platform possible. To build beautiful bonds across generations, continents, and cultures. To connect with or follow Anieke click here 

Join Us at Peekabond

Peekabond is an interactive video messaging app designed for young children to connect with family at a distance. Use our fun and age-appropriate activity cards as inspiration to send video messages to young grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Create, share, and safely store playful moments with your family and friends. Perfect for parents who want their kids to create memories with far away family members and friends. If you would like to try Peekabond click here

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11 Fun and Useful Apps for Expat Families in 2022

11 Fun and Useful Apps for Families in 2022 by Vincent van de Noord

Do you ever feel like your family is missing out on the life of your child? I know I do. When I was young, I saw my grandparents often because they lived very close by. Naturally, we developed a very strong and loving bond.

Nowadays, my family is living further apart. My son can’t hop on his bike to see his grandparents, so we need other ways to stay in touch. Luckily, almost everything can be done virtually these days. We’re still waiting for technology but kisses and hugs, but my son is saving them up for the moments my family is together in real life.

Finding the right apps can be a chore. We know because we sorted through many of them. To help you, we’ve made a list of 11 apps that you could use. Some are free, but most are freemium (you can try it out, but have to pay to take full advantage of the app).

Each of these apps offers something different and can help you build a virtual connection with your family. So that when you are together in real life, it will be as if you were never apart.

We’ve sorted them into categories. Let’s dive in!

The best video calling apps

For live video calls, these are great options.

FaceTime (free)

Apple’s video calling platform is great for live interaction with your family. You can use it on an iPad for an extra-large screen, and it offers funny animal filters that you can play around with.

It’s only available on Apple devices. You do have the challenge of finding the right time, and depending on the creativity of your family members it will be a conversation with the child or just the adults talking.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/facetime/id1110145091

Zoom (freemium)

Zoom really took off during COVID. It works very well as a tool for video calls, but it’s built for business communication, so there is no playfulness unless you bring it yourself. The free option is limited to 40 minutes.

https://zoom.us

Alternative:

You can also use Google Meet, which is free to use.

The best messenger apps

If you want to send messages, these are the right apps for you.

Marco Polo (freemium)

Marco Polo is a great option if you want to have video chats with your family. It works by sending short videos back and forth, which makes it more suited to use for young children. It’s designed for close relationships and is relatively easy to use.

What it doesn’t offer is content or activities to get the conversation going. As a parent, you often still have to initiate the contact.

https://www.marcopolo.me/wellbeing/

WhatsApp (free)

I don’t think this one needs an introduction. With approximately 2 billion (!) users, WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messenger app worldwide. It’s great to share messages, videos, and photos. You can also create a group for your family.

The downside is that it’s a very generic messenger built for adults, and your videos and photos are easily lost in your message history. And let’s not forget it’s owned by Meta (formally Facebook), a company that isn’t well known for its privacy standards.

https://www.whatsapp.com

Signal (free)

Signal is privacy friendly alternative to WhatsApp. It offers similar functionality, but its focus on security and privacy can make it a better choice for users concerned about their data (and of course, that should be everyone!).

https://signal.org

Best photo & video sharing apps

If you primarily want to share photos and videos, these apps could be great for you.

Google Photos (freemium)

This is a popular platform where you can store and organize all your photos and videos and share them with your family. You get some free storage, if you need more you have to buy an additional subscription.

Google Photos offers a great photo-sharing platform. However, for some people (myself included), sharing private photos of my child with Google feels uncomfortable.

https://www.google.com/photos/about/

Tiny Beans (freemium)

Tiny Beans is a platform with lots of content for parents. They also offer an app that allows you to share photos of your child with your family and track their milestones.

It offers great ideas for parents, but they don’t facilitate two-way interaction between loved ones and a child. It’s perfect for keeping your family in the loop but less suited to building a relationship with loved ones.

https://tinybeans.com

Best family games

This is our favorite category. It’s not just sharing videos and messages, but really playing together. Being playful is important for a child’s development, and its also a lot of fun!

Together (freemium)

This is a family video chat focused on grandparents and grandchildren that lets you play little games and read books together in a video call. It offers games like chess, checkers, and memory. You can have 3 free calls, after that you will have to buy a subscription.

https://www.togethervideoapp.com

OK Play (freemium)

This is a bit of an odd one out because it’s not about connecting with loved ones remotely, but about playing games when you’re together. But because it’s also about creating a connection, I wanted to point this out as well. As a parent, definitely give it a try and play together with your child.

https://okplay.co

Caribu (freemium)

Caribu lets you do fun activities together in a video call. For instance, you can read a book or create a drawing together. You can start for free, but to make the most use of the app you will need a subscription.

It can make video calls more engaging and playful, but you still have to find the right time. As a parent myself, I know that can be a challenge!

https://caribu.com

Peekabond (freemium)

Peekabond is a family app that combines the best of video messaging, photo & video sharing, and family games. It’s built with children in mind and designed to be easy to use for all ages. You can share videos or play little games with loved ones. It helps grandparents and grandchildren to build a deeper relationship, with activities that grow with the age of the child.

Download Peekabond

A final word

I am a proud father and co founder of Peekabond. All the apps we’ve mentioned here could help your family to feel closer. Building a meaningful relationship always requires effort. I’ve found that many families really WANT to have a closer connection, but it’s hard to maintain in the daily hustle of life.

This is the challenge that we want to solve with Peekabond. Create a virtual place where you can be together as a family, without adding more work on your plate as a parent.

I invite you to try Peekabond, hope to see you there soon.

About Vincent

Vincent is a father and co-founder of Peekabond, living in the Netherlands. He loves designing beautiful products and wants to use his skills to make (at least) 20 million people smile. When he’s not working on Peekabond, you can find him doing outdoor activities or spending quality time with his family. You can find more about Vincent here

Join Us at Peekabond

Anieke Lamers, our CEO created Peekabond at the onset of Covid-19. A mobile app to help global families bond with young children remotely. Inspiring families to create playful and engaging moments with young children.

Asynchronous video connection and inspirational science-based content suggestions. Allowing families and loved ones to share small moments and build better bonds. Every play experience is designed with care and approved by child development experts. Always age appropriate. Always private and secure, never showing ads. Our intention is to build a movement that connects families across borders and over generations. If you would like to try Peekabond click here

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