"Life is, at times, an Adventure"

What's life like before and after children? 

When I think back to my life before we had kids, what I remember most is the abundance of time — and the abundance of possibilities. I was relatively young when I got pregnant with my oldest, at 26, and at that point, I didn’t have any “real” responsibilities. I was studying to become a teacher and living in a small apartment that took maybe an hour to deep clean.

Now, I’m a full-time teacher, a mother of two small children, with a third on the way, and living in a big house. And what I find myself missing most is time. Time to be fully present with my kids, time to get the house in order, but mostly time to fill my own cup.

Having children, and the constant lack of time that comes with it, has taught me the importance of sometimes putting my own needs first, and of recognizing my own limitations. I’ve learned that I can’t do everything alone, and that I truly need others and their support. If it weren’t for our strong network and the incredibly present grandparents in our lives, I don’t think we would have the luxury of dreaming of, let alone managing, a big family of five. On the good days, I can recognize how motherhood has made me softer — more flexible, more honest, and more loving toward myself.

 

How has your own childhood shaped you?

I grew up in a large family myself - and a busy home. There was always room for others, friend and relatives, always enough food (to say the least), and always an open door. My childhood home was filled with play, laughter, and spontaneity. I think it cemented in me how we all need different people to fulfill different needs and how we can’t expect it all to come from one person. And, that life is better with a little chaos, and a lot of colorful and caring people.

And that’s why it’s so important for me to bring that same sense of community to my own children.

"I’m looking forward to putting up the Christmas decorations, turning on the soft lights, and creating the most magical setting for our little boy’s arrival"

What's this chapter like - expecting your third child?

This is a very special time for me, because right now, time feels like a resource again. I’m on early maternity leave, which means I have eight weeks at home before my due date. My belly is heavy, and I’m either a little or a lot tired most of the time, but I have time to nurture myself, our home, and our kids.

I spend my days trying to fill all our cups before the new addition to our family arrives. And as we get closer to Christmas, I’m looking forward to baking all my favorite Christmas cookies and giving the kids some time off from daycare.

What do you look most forward to when the baby arrives?

First and foremost, I’m looking forward to birthing him. Birth has become something of an obsession for me ever since my first experience. I’ve been blessed with two uncomplicated births so far. Last time, I gave birth at a private clinic designed to feel like a home birth. This time, I’ll be giving birth at home, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the process of preparing for his arrival.

I’ve been stocking the freezer and fridge with the right snacks and homemade bread, and I’ve rented a birthing tub. Not to mention all the Christmas cookies I expect will be baked by the time he decides to come. I’m looking forward to putting up the Christmas decorations, turning on the soft lights, and creating the most magical setting for our little boy’s arrival.

And of course, I can’t wait to introduce him to his older siblings. Margit especially can’t wait. Sometimes I’m afraid she’ll try to claw him out herself.

"My parents did some pretty wild things with us when we were kids. We skied off-piste and had to be roped down cliffs. We swam in the Amazon where there were caimans (a kind of alligator), and we went on spontaneous road trips."

You and Mathias are both teachers — does it affect the way you raise your children?

I think being a trained educator and childcare professional while raising my own kids is both a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing because I know how to set firm boundaries in ways that benefit them, and I have a clear sense of what to expect, and what not to expect. At the same time, it can be a curse, because I’m hyperaware of “doing it right” and sometimes feel the weight of my own knowledge.

What I’ve found most interesting and important as a teacher, and what I constantly try to remind myself, is the importance of finding joy in the process, in the learning, the painting, the playing, rather than being caught up in the end result. And I hope to nurture that perspective in their lives, so they can experience and be present in the journey rather than just the outcome.

How do you set up your home to be a family space?

We’re very inspired by the house’s inherited architecture and try to always work with what’s already here. The house was built in the early 1970s, and you can sense a certain playfulness and a fresh way of thinking about living spaces in its design. Downstairs, with the kitchen, dining area, home offices, and kids’ rooms, there’s a lot of energy: cooking, working, playing. So we intentionally designed the upstairs to be a calm and quiet space, meant for reading, doing puzzles, and playing board games.

As a couple, we’re both passionate about architecture and architect-designed furniture, especially the classics from the 1950s to the 1970s. We believe that the visual character of a living space should feel organic and aesthetically stimulating to create a sense of home and to have both a calming and inspiring effect.

Wheat value from your own upbringing would you like to pass on?

A sense of daring and adventure. My parents did some pretty wild things with us when we were kids. We skied off-piste and had to be roped down cliffs. We swam in the Amazon where there were caimans (a kind of alligator), and we went on spontaneous road trips.

I want my kids to feel that making decisions doesn’t have to be scary — that life is, at times, an adventure. And that it’s perfectly normal to take chances.

"I want my kids to feel that making decisions doesn’t have to be scary — that life is, at times, an adventure."

What's a perfect family day like right now?

A perfect family day is waking up and making a special breakfast with all their favorites, while Mathias and I carve out a moment to enjoy our coffee, maybe even read an article in the paper. Then time to digest, and to play with the kids in their pajamas. When they start to get antsy, we bundle up in the most weather-appropriate outfits and head outside for an adventure. We often go to the beach or take a walk in the forest. We often make games out of it. Maybe we'll look for a treasure or we'll go looking for early signs of "nisser". Sometimes we share a piece of cake in the café in the forest.

By the time we get home, everyone is ready for lunch, and the afternoon is spent playing PlayStation, board games, watching movies, or doing puzzles. Then comes the “wolfing hour,” when - to be honest - we almost, always, mostly just survive.