To be sincere (and I would like to start our relationship with being completely sincere), I am a Stuttgart Mom from the bottom of my heart. But one that got happily and fully on purpose “stranded” in beautiful Northville. Born and raised in a vibrant yet village-like city in Southern Germany surrounded by vineyards, I have felt both the need to leave my hometown and venture out into the big world once in a while as much as loyally returning to my roots and my homies again and again. After finishing school, I had to admit to myself that this place is actually pretty cool. But also that the world is big and beautiful, and that 19 years seems like enough time spent at only spot. Having had just recently fallen madly in love with a certain soccer player who did not feel like leaving Stuttgart ever, things did not look good for me wanting to have it all, aka: the man AND the adventure of living abroad.
But, what can I say? I do consider myself extremely lucky to have convinced my boyfriend back in the day that it would be totally worth it to leave our home base in Stuttgart for a year and check out Boston. That was 20 years ago. The experience got both of us hooked. And eventually married. It brought us to Japan as interns when we were about to graduate from college. It brought us to Brazil as so-called “expats” when we were about to start a family.
Our latest adventure now led us to beautiful Michigan three years ago, this time as a family of four. Together with our two sons Philip (10) and Niklas (8), we came to metro Detroit in 2016. Here we are, all settled in Northville, enjoying life in “The Mitten.” We’ve been lucky to have found amazing friends here in an American small town and grew quite some roots doing this “suburban thing” that I honestly now have a lot of respect for. It was amazing how warmly welcomed we felt and how easy this huge transition to a different country on a different continent where people speak a different language for our two boys was.
We are a true soccer family. We love traveling and exploring the world a little bit whenever our schedules allow for it. Our favorite Sundays are being spent entirely in our PJs and must include books, a long and late breakfast, some baking, playing board games, and having a movie night during those never-ending Michigan winters. We equally love hanging out with friends of all ages on all sorts of occasions, sharing good food and conversations. Well, we do all of the above as long as we are not standing at some sidelines watching our boys play soccer.
Professionally I like playing with different perspectives. Diversity has been my topic ever since I considered myself halfway grown-up. I am a sociologist and intercultural trainer and am passionate about finding the small adventures around the corner and ways to show how enriching diversity in our life as parents, professionals and simply human beings can be.
In my personal spare time (what was that again?), I am also an “amateur” actress, having performed in various shows on stage with an 18-year break in between. That is the only sort of “drama” I actually need in my life. Unfortunately, I have not found a theatre group in metro Detroit that could use an actress with a German accent.
What makes my life richer these days apart from my most favorite people in the world are regular breakfast sessions and good talks at the parking lot with my mom tribe, running through the woods, meditating, yoga, staying in touch with friends and family in Germany, writing old-school letters and postcards, and once in a while, dancing it out.
I am a firm believer that motherhood and doing life, in general, is no competition and neither should be one. EVER! Also, that we all should stop comparing ourselves but focus more on what truly works for our family, our kids, our relationships, and last but not least, our sanity.
