How Denmark-Based Kenyan Mother Judy Wanderi Jørgensen Approaches Parenting Abroad

Kenyan families living abroad are rethinking how to raise their children while balancing cultural heritage with the expectations of their host countries.

Journalist and blogger Judy Wanjiku Wanderi Jørgensen, who lives in Denmark, has written about this experience from a personal perspective. She says parenting in the diaspora involves more than managing daily routines. It also requires emotional awareness and a conscious effort to maintain cultural identity. 

She describes family traditions, such as storytelling, shared meals, and time spent together in the kitchen, as central to how Kenyan families build a sense of belonging. Discipline is one area where many diaspora parents must adapt. In Kenya, family structures often emphasise strong respect for elders and clear authority. 

In many Western countries, however, schools and child welfare systems encourage discussion, independence, and self-expression. Parents such as Jørgensen say it is important to maintain parental authority while also allowing space for children to develop confidence and independence.

Living abroad also means raising children without the close support of extended family. In Kenya, grandparents, aunts, and uncles often take part in childcare and help guide younger family members. 

Outside the country, parents usually manage these responsibilities on their own. Although this can be demanding, some families see it as an opportunity to shape their children’s values and independence more directly.

Differences in cultural expectations can create further challenges. Practices such as strict gender roles or early marriage may conflict with social norms in host countries. Children may therefore feel pressure to navigate two cultural systems. 

Parents and community members often recommend storytelling, shared traditions, and open discussion as ways to help children understand both their heritage and the society in which they live. Other Kenyans abroad have expressed similar views. Sara Mueller Issa Okello, who raised her children in Switzerland, has spoken about the importance of providing stability while maintaining a connection to Kenyan culture.

She has also said she intended to return to Kenya after securing her family’s future. Some diaspora parents eventually move back to Kenya because they believe growing up within the country’s cultural environment helps children develop responsibility and resilience.