If you would have told me 10 years ago that, I would now be living in Germany and raising my child abroad – I would not have believed you. Germany and I have now lived through various chapters of my life and starting a family abroad and becoming a parent has been the highlight of Chapter 4 of my expat life.

But like many expats probably experience, I sometimes cannot help but question “How long do I want to stay living abroad?” or “Will I eventually want to move back ‘home’ to be close to family?” While I might not have the answers to those questions yet, one thing I do know is that Germany is the place I want to be in for now and where I want to raise my child.

Mother pushing daughter on the swing. She is smiling and happy.

For me, Germany feels like a place that values family care and has laws in place to support that. Based on conversations with friends back in the U.S. who also have children, I see the benefits of raising children here rather than back home. Here are the main reasons why I believe Germany is a good country to raise children in:

Safety

This is the most important aspect of why I choose to stay in Germany and raise my daughter. To be honest, reading the news and seeing the awful things happening to children in schools back home in the U.S., makes me hesitant to want to go back and raise children there. I love the freedom that comes with living in a place where I genuinely feel safe and do not have to constantly worry about my child’s safety, especially in school. In Germany, I often see young children riding their bikes or walking home alone after school – and this is completely normal! As it should be. Sadly, this is not the case back in the states and more security measures are being put in place to protect children due to the dangers they face in schools. I want my daughter to grow up in a place where she can freely play outside or walk to school on her own, without the daunting concerns for her safety.

Values Placed on Family

From generous parental leave, legal minimum of 20 vacation days from your employer, to free education, I see the values placed on families here in Germany. Especially on Sundays, when many places are closed and you get the chance to do meaningful activities that allow for bonding and quality time with your family. There is a communal sense of the importance of family values and there are laws in place to help support that.

A Culture that Promotes Staying Active

Spending time outdoors and in nature is a part of everyday living in Germany. Regardless of the weather, I love that there is an emphasis on getting outside and doing something active (even if it just for a short walk around the neighborhood). Keeping kids active with extracurricular activities such as sports, swimming, hiking etc. is an essential part of growing up in Germany. Plus, promoting kids to get outside more often also forces us as parents to be more active and get some sunshine. I think we can all agree that this is an essential part of our well-being as parents as well, right?

Of course, every place has its pros and cons – I created The Eltern Hub because I noticed the lack of English resources available to international families. So there are definitely things that, I see Germany can improve better on. However, when I compare the challenges close family and friends experience back home and the lack of access to resources to support them in their parenting journey – then I know I have chosen the right place to live and raise my child in. I feel lucky to be here and to be raising my daughter in a place that values the livelihood of children and families.