One Simple Reason I Raise My Daughter In Spain Instead Of The US

So far, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, and it provided my daughter life — which all children deserve. Freedom in the United States does not exist for children

Today, I came across an article written by Anastasia Frugaard about not wanting to raise their 2-year-old daughter in the United States.

She was looking for information about a location where she could raise her daughter in simplicity, away from the fear of being shot, sick, or financially broken.

I wrote to her with a simple:

Yes, Andalucia, Spain.

I moved here 4 years ago from the States, DC metro area and so far it was the best decision I could ever make for my child as a mother.

I was concerned about these issues since Anastasia is likewise concerned for her daughter.

Anastasia, I completely understand your worries; I was in the same position.

I suggest you read her story first. This is a sort of sequel to hers.

We live in a Spanish village, deep in the mountains of Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras. I am very proud of the very close community of Spanish and foreigners we have here.

Yes, it is not flawless, but the people are pleasant and helpful. There is never a shortage of genuine help whenever I need anything for my daughter or myself.

My daughter is free to ride a bicycle anyplace she chooses, and she may even go to Granada on her own, as well. She takes the public bus to Granada, which takes 30 minutes. Even the driver knows her since the community is so close.

We don’t even own a car. No need. Walking is the primary mode of transportation.

She can go for a walk with her horse to the river. When parents are proud of their children, no one thinks it is sexual abuse, and her teacher at schools are always hugging children, as thanks to their success.

Kids do the same thing. It took my daughter almost three years to establish regular contact with others. She was accustomed to the US not to touch anyone and preserve her privacy.

Most dog owners walk their dogs without a leash. When my friends from Canada were visiting, they were shocked and scared to see big dogs without a leash. For kids, it was a novelty. Here it is normal.

Andalusian kids aren’t very ambitious, and school isn’t their priority. Andalusia province, with just 15% of the country’s children attaining higher education, has the lowest number of graduates. Spain is also well below average when compared to EU norms.

Clearly, competence isn’t a trend here.

Others may criticize it, but I was once one of the overambitious parents who aren’t anymore. Having a laid-back childhood is more beneficial and healthy for children.

Sports for children are in Spain to be enjoyed, not compete over. Even her ski instructors or horse riding coaches say:

Tranquilo y no pasa nada.

In the United States, skipping school is considered a crime and can result in lower grades, but here, it doesn’t matter. If you are sick or have family issues, it is ok not to come to school.

When she was in elementary school, the classroom was mostly outside. At 9 AM, the children started school with flamenco dance, not the Pledge.

The Spanish have a higher priority than other cultures to educate their children on how to relax and unwind, rather than stressing.

Public education may be as good, if not better, than private education. Of course, you’ll encounter bullying and other difficulties at school; they’re swiftly dealt with. There is no need for social workers or psychotherapists in schools.

My daughter doesn’t know what the shooter drills are, never had them in Spain. She only has fire drills at school, once in six months.

That it is.

The lunches last 3 hours, and eating faster is not permitted. It’s always at 2 p.m. promptly, followed by a siesta. Siesta is taken extremely seriously in Spain, it is not a myth.

When my daughter moved to Spain, she was smitten with the variety of fresh fruits and their taste.

For $2 and $1, you may get 2 pounds of strawberries and pineapple. Every day we go to the market to buy a bagful of fresh, tasty vegetables and fruit.

When the season comes, neighbors are swapping free bags of fresh produce because they can’t eat them all. You can also walk around a village and are free to pick fruits. They are available.

Even if you take some from the neighbor, he will quickly offer you a bag to take it more.

When we have any social gathering, which is often at least once a week as dance, karaoke, or just simply enjoying a sunset with the wine in our hands.

Nobody ever asked me in Spain what I do, or where I work. They have no particular interest whether you work or have a career; it’s not the top of their list, as it is in the United States.

As Anastasia Frugaard writes:

Simple as in life is full of simple joys: family, friends, nature, good food, and good wine.

Instead of saving for her college education, we are saving to buy her apartment in Granada.

No debts.

One year of university tuition in Spain is 800 Euros. You may also receive a full scholarship with money to live on from ERASMUS if you are an excellent student with excellent grades, no need to perform in sports.

Recently, we discovered our daughter had some heart problems. We went to the best pediatric heart specialist in Granada. Everything was quick, thorough, and highly professional.

Our bill to this day is zero.

When I lived in the States, I would always tell my friends, this isn’t what I envisioned for my daughter, this isn’t what a childhood kid should have. Kids need community, freedom, and nature to freely run around and not to be chaperoned and always supervised by adults.

They all said that what I am wishing for is only a utopia and such a place doesn’t exist.

I proved them all wrong because a place like this indeed exists and is called Andalusia, Spain.

I would like to raise my daughter here so she can be free to be a kid, have a simple and stress-free childhood, enjoy good food, make friends easily, and dance under the stars.

What more could a parent ask for?