Marianna Sachse, an American mother residing in the Netherlands, shared her experiences of collective parenting support in Dutch culture. Unlike in the U.S., where she felt isolated, she encountered strangers offering help and advice. This sense of community not only aided her as a new mother but also gave her children a taste of independence. Sachse reflected on a memorable encounter when a stranger offered to hold her baby during a meal, marking a cultural difference that enriched her parenting experience during their four-year stay in the Netherlands.
When I first moved to the Netherlands, a stranger offered to hold my baby, which reflected the collective approach to parenting I found so refreshing.
Living in the Netherlands fostered a sense of community around parenting that I didn't experience in the U.S., making me feel more relaxed and supported.
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