Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

I don’t think this could happen in the United States. I am not sure what other countries it could not happen in, but I know where it does happen.

In the Scandinavian countries – Finland, Sweden, Denmark – parents will leave their kids outside in their strollers while they go inside to make dinner or have coffee with their friends.

Am I the only one who thinks this is funny? Not funny ha ha, but peculiar?

Baby Stroller Parking

For sure, moms and dads in these countries love their kids, too.

If kids were left outside in the US, they are likely to found later for sale on eBay or Craigslist.

I suppose these countries are safer? Or just more baby friendly.

It appears that if mom is eating lunch with friends inside and the baby starts crying, somebody who passes by and hears the baby will step inside and give the mom a head’s up.

“Hey, the baby is crying.”

“Can you rock him back and forth till I finish this scone?”

“Um, I gotta catch the next tram.”

“Are you kidding? And you don’t have time for a baby? Till I finish my hot tea? Gee, they don’t make neighbors the way they used to, do they?”

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.