Ghent residents share their stories about parenting with confidence
At Comon, we want to help build a stronger parenting community, because 'It takes a village to raise a child'. Many parents cherish the joy of parenthood and the unique bond they share with their children. But parenting also comes with its fair share of challenges. What challenges do people in Ghent face today? We spoke with parents and grandparents. Discover their stories
Marijn, father of three-year-old Ade and seven-month-old Ilia: "We raise our children in a very free way, with few rules, because we don’t want to take away their playfulness. Our 3-year-old daughter, for example, is allowed to play freely on the sidewalk or in the front yard along our quiet street. But society expects parents to set boundaries. So where do you draw the line? Are we not being strict enough? These two perspectives sometimes clash. It’s a hot topic in our home." Freedom versus boundaries — a challenge many parents wrestle with. And then there’s screen time, which raises even more questions.
Lies, mother of a 9-year-old son and an enthusiastic gamer: "Screen time is a big challenge — making the switch from screen to regular play isn’t easy. As parents, we’re still learning it ourselves, so how do we teach it to our kids? It’s a process of trial and error."
And what if parenting is combined with other challenges, like single parenthood or a lack of support network? Yuliia, originally from Ukraine and mother of a 10-year-old son, shares: "As a single mom, it’s hard to find a babysitter for my son. I can’t just say yes to an invitation."
Every generation faces its own parenting challenges. But how did parents approach things in the past? Rita reflects on her experience raising her children: "As children grow up, it’s a constant search for how to deal with possible threats — drugs, the media, health... Parenting means letting go, but at the same time staying alert. Children often don’t see the consequences of their actions themselves."
Rachid, father of four and divorced, shares: "Can you raise children well after a divorce? I believe it’s important that parents get along. If one parent says no, the other should say no too."
Today, there’s another factor in the mix: finding balance between work and family. Kristin, mother of Jorrit (9) and Aster (6), shares: "Balancing work and being a mom is hard. My son said, ‘Mama, I miss the time when you didn’t have to work so much’ — it broke my heart. I want to listen, but also set boundaries, even though I sometimes feel like the yelling parent." Energy and time play a big role too. How do you combine all the roles you carry?
Children need each other to grow and learn. But how do we make that happen in a world where they spend more and more time indoors? Marie-Paule, mother of a son and daughter and grandmother to a baby, shares: "Children need one another. Compared to the past, they’re raised more indoors now, without other children around. So adults have to make up for that by being more involved themselves — and that can take a lot of energy!"
Elien, mother of a young daughter, shares: "I want to play, learn, and explore together with my daughter. But after a long workday, sometimes you just don’t have the energy. Then comes the guilt. And trying to make up for it adds even more pressure."
Frank, father of two and divorced, shares: "My daughter was really sad because she was one of the few kids at school without a Kabouter Plop backpack — she just had a regular one. As a parent, you don’t want to give in to social pressure to buy that backpack too, but you also don’t want your daughter to feel sad or left out."
In pictures
