During an observation day at my son’s yochien, my friend translated for me that the teacher was splitting the kids into two groups: those who could read, and those who were still learning. Much to my surprise, my three-year-old American son fell into the first group. MBH and I were delighted, and more than a…
Category: Writing
My Kids Don’t See Me Work… But They Do See Me Drive – Washington Post
I spend a great deal of time traveling with my kids, taking them to incredible locales, on amazing adventures, and generally choosing to take our chaos on the road as often as possible, then writing it all down. Throughout our adventures, I’m usually the one driving them around. MBH is often elsewhere for work, and…
My Best Productivity Trick for TODAY
MBH likes to call me the laziest productive person he’s ever met. It’s true. I do love me some naps. Fiercely. I’ve also learned studied two languages, written four novels, traveled around the world, launched a popular travel blog (it’s this one!) and am raising two wonderful kids, who are still little enough that when I…
Thoughts at POPSUGAR on Moving Back to America
The Washington Post reported — two years and an unbelievable 101 school shootings ago — that many American expats in Japan are reluctant to return to the possibility of gun violence in the United States after experiencing its absence. I’m definitely one of them. Our time in Japan was marked by such amazing people, wondrous…
Best of SavvyTokyo – 2017
Two of my articles were among the top 10 most popular pieces for Savvy Tokyo in 2017! It’s so astonishing as a writer to know that a) anyone is reading anything you write and that b) it resonates with them. It made my heart happy to hear this news! Both the pieces – and the…
How Japan Raises Resilient Children
Learning about Nana korobi ya oki — “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”
The Japanese Way of Disciplining Children
How are Japanese families disciplining their children — and how are they eliciting good behavior in the first place? I wasn’t the only American mother asking this question.
Best of SavvyTokyo 2016
Pretty astonished and thrilled that my first piece for SavvyTokyo ended up being their most popular for 2016 – and it was only published in November! Read more – and other great pieces about Japan – here: The Best Of Savvy Tokyo For 2016
How Japan Prepares Its Children for Independence – SavvyTokyo
I couldn’t be more thrilled to write a monthly column for SavvyTokyo on parenting in Japan. The culture and community mindset is so fascinating to me, and I see so much I’d like to emulate in raising my own children. Teaching them to be confident and independent is a major quality we noticed right from…
Kate Has Thoughts 