Culture Clash Parenting

In this episode, we dive into the summer rhythms of American and European families. From France’s government-supported vacation programs to the U.S.’s work-focused approach, we explore how different cultures approach time off. We also share personal stories about international travel with kids, navigating airports, and what it means to juggle dual citizenship during the holiday season. Plus, we re...

In this episode, we unpack what it feels like to visit “home” (aka your country of origin) solo vs. bringing your kids along for the ride. From family dynamics and sleep schedules to generational routines and emotional whiplash, we reflect on how going back to your roots as a parent reveals new layers of cultural clash. Whether it's decompressing alone or juggling kid chaos and grandparent ex...

In this episode, we dive into the musicality of language and explore how intonation —the rise and fall of our voices—can completely shape how we're understood (or misunderstood!) across cultures. From Gary Oldman’s method acting insights to awkward restaurant moments, we share how intonation influences identity, communication, and connection, especially when raising kids across languages. Joi...

In this episode, we dive into the delightful chaos of spring holidays in multicultural families. From Passover Seders to Easter egg hunts (and everything in between), we share how our families celebrate, adapt, and blend traditions. Join us as we reflect on food, faith, and flexibility — all while parenting across cultures. Topics Discussed: How Passover and Easter overlapped this year Cultural di...

In this episode, we welcome special guest Colette Ballew — a Third Culture Kid who went on to raise Third Culture Kids of her own. From navigating interfaith family dynamics to blending French, American, Jewish, and Tunisian traditions, we explore how identity, language, and culture show up across generations. Join us as we dive into the power of storytelling, the complexity of belonging, and the...

Daylight Savings Time is messing with us again—and this episode is proof! In Episode 13, Marisa and Astrid show up late and lean all the way into the chaos of time zones, cultural differences, and parenting schedules gone wrong . From accidentally mismatched calendars to nursing babies who run on their own clocks , we explore the ways personality, culture, and parenting styles shape how we experie...

Carnaval, Mardi Gras, and Purim—three celebrations, countless traditions! In this episode, we explore how different cultures mark this festive season with costumes, parades, and plenty of chaos. Astrid shares what it was like celebrating Carnaval in Germany , where the party lasts from Thursday to Tuesday (yes, almost a whole week!). Marisa explains how Purim , a Jewish holiday, is like a Jewish v...

In this episode, we dive into the cultural differences between group work and individual work in schools and workplaces. Inspired by a personal experience with my son’s school project, we discuss how different education systems approach collaboration, independence, and grading. Are group projects really teaching teamwork, or are they just a source of frustration? How do different cultures balance...

If you want to check out the video version, be sure to check out our youtube channel: @cultureclashparenting In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of idiomatic expressions across English, French, and German. Have you ever translated a phrase word-for-word and ended up with total nonsense? We’ve all been there! Language is more than just words—it’s history, humor, and culture wrapped...

If you want to check out the video version, be sure to check out our youtube channel: @cultureclashparenting What’s on your child’s school lunch tray? In this episode, we dig into the fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) differences in school lunches across cultures. From French multi-course meals to American cafeteria nacho bars, we explore what kids are eating at school and how food policies...

In this episode, we reflect on some of the unique dynamics of secondary education systems across cultures. From conseil de classe in France to the German Abitur , we kick of 2025 by sharing how we're navigating reentry after the holidays. Join us as we share personal anecdotes, insights, and the unexpected surprises of parenting our multicultural teens. Topics Discussed: The transition betwee...

Introduction: Happy New Year! We’re excited to share our first episode of 2025 with you. In this episode, we reflect on how different cultures celebrate the start of the year. From pomegranates in Greece to chimney sweeps in Germany, we share our personal traditions and explore symbols of luck, family, and hope across the globe. Whether you celebrated with fireworks and champagne or went to bed ea...

In this episode, we explore the joys and challenges of blending holiday traditions as multicultural and interfaith families. From menorahs to Christmas stockings, gumball trees to Secret Santa exchanges, we share stories of how we navigate the holiday season while honoring our children’s diverse cultural and religious identities. We also dive into the role of holiday music in creating joy. Whether...

In this episode, we dive into the delicious world of holiday foods across cultures! From Thanksgiving leftovers to Christmas goose, foie gras, and mulled wine, we share stories of the dishes that make our holidays special. We discuss how our favorite traditions have evolved as cross-cultural parents, blending the flavors of our childhoods with the customs of the countries we now call home. Hungry...

In this episode, we kick off our holiday series with a lively discussion about blending and preserving holiday traditions from our cultures. We specifically talk about three favorites (that all revolve around food!): Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Chandeleur. We share our experiences as parents navigating holiday celebrations across countries and traditions and how we're teaching our kids the m...

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating differences in how the concept of "parenting" varies across cultures, starting with a surprising fact: the word "parenting" doesn’t even exist in some languages, like French and German! We discuss how these linguistic differences reflect deeper cultural expectations around raising children and the role of parents. From whether paren...

In this episode of Culture Clash Parenting , Marisa and Astrid dive into the humorous and sometimes embarrassing world of "faux amis," or "false friends"—words that sound the same across languages but mean completely different things. They share personal stories of language mishaps and explore how such experiences shape their lives as expat parents. From accidentally calling th...

In the debut episode of Culture Clash Parenting , co-hosts Marisa Raymond and Astrid share their powerful journey of friendship, beginning in an online miscarriage support group in 2006. Both women, hailing from different parts of the world—Marisa, an American living in France, and Astrid, a German who moved to the U.S.—discuss their shared experiences of loss, cultural differences in healthcare,...