Job Discussion Forums

osakajojo · Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 229

going to be a daddy, does anyone know of some boards or good sites to look at, maybe for advice and support for foreigners who will be parents?

I have read a bit on Dave's about how expensive it is and everything having a kid, just wondering if any of you parents have other places to turn to for help with the struggle and joy of being a dad and an English teacher!

Billy Chaka · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 77

Congratulations! I would think the advice you would get would partially depend on the nationality of your significant other. Is she Japanese?

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

$10 says he's having a j-spec child Wink

Congratulations.

Sherri · Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 7:45 pm Post subject:

Congratulations, Osakajojo! That is really exciting. I recommend this site:

http://www.tokyowithkids.com/

It has Tokyo in the title, but covers all areas of Japan. There is an active message board to discuss all kinds of issues related to having a child in Japan. You can also hook up with other parents and form your own playgroups.

All the best!
Sherri
Mom of 2 children born in Japan

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Good for you! I understand how you are feeling. I have 2 kids myself and another on the way. One was born in Canada and one in Japan.

Do you have any specific questions? When is the due date?
Yes, it is expensive to have a baby born in Japan, but it depends on the hospital.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Congrats, osakajojo. Is your wife Japanese?

Be prepared for your life to change radically. Ask anything you want. Been there. Done that.

osakajojo · Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 229

Yea, Japanese. Due in October.
Sherry I looked at tokyowithkids, thanks.
PaulH I do want him/her to be bicultural,
& Glenski I have been reading your messages for years and trust me I know it will change radically just based on all I have read!

On the train today we stood by a Japanese mom holding her blue eyed baby with light brown hair and once they stepped off, my wife turned to me and said "that baby is cute, she is a "hafu" and I said "Are you ready for people to talk about you and your baby behind your back all the time" and she said she wants people to because the baby will be so cute! I'm just thinking wow what a journey I have ahead of me!

She is 35, I am 32, it wasn't planned of course, but given our ages it is just as good now then later probably given that I would probably never be really "ready"! Wink

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Jawful · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 19

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Congrats, Osakajojo!! I'm in the same boat. My wife (she's Japanese too) will give birth in September. As PaulH wrote, there is never going to be perfect timing, but I'm 39 now and we figured I won't want to be an old geezer when they're teenagers.
You are probably aware that the city in which you live most likely pays a cash "incentive" for having a kid, which will offset some of the costs of the delivery and a lot of the pre-natal checkups. Still, if you are like me, you've probably found that all those wild nights at bars and izakiyas are a thing of the past.
When the baby will be about 6 months old, we'll move to the US, so the "hafu" issue will be an American thing. We want to raise our kid to be as bilingual and bicultural as possible, and hope we can make frequent trips back to Japan. Luckily, where I'm from (Oregon) has a sizable Japanese/Asian population, so it may not be as bad as if were going to rural Kentucky or southern Utah.
Ganbatte!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Congratulations to you young man, good job!
Ever you need support, please pm me.
We have a 5-year-old and one coming in two months.

Enjoy,
s

PS. Read: What to Expect When You Are Expecting.

24601 · Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 75

osakajojo · Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 229

Thanks to you all, and Congrats to you Sweetsee and AndyH.
I may PM in the future when I have more questions, don't know anyone personally around me that is in the same boat as me.
I was told the new at 10a.m. after comming back high from an all night rave one Sun morning, talk about a wake up call!
It is safe to say those all nighters are a thing of the past and they are one of the reasons I love living in Japan, but it looks like I will have a more fullfilling love before I know it.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan