A Guide, A Giggle, and A Glimpse into Parenting as an International Mom.

When I first became a mom in the UK, I thought I knew what parenting looked like. 

After all, I had grown up in Nigeria, a country where education was structured, intense, and, in many ways, handled by the system. Teachers did the heavy lifting. Tutors were the bridge. Parents were the supporters. But moving here changed everything.

I quickly realised that in the UK, learning is not just what happens in school, it’s what happens after school, between school, and around school. Here, parents are expected to be co-teachers, mentors, and motivators. And that’s something no one really prepares you for as an international parent.

I still remember one of my earliest “UK school” experiences showing up on what I thought was a normal school day, only to find the gates closed.

Turns out, it was Inset Day (a teacher training day).

I had no idea what that meant at the time, and I stood there, my son perfectly dressed, lunchbox in hand, wondering if I had missed a secret code. And in a way, I had. Because no one tells you how many unspoken codes there are when you’re raising children in a new country.

Over time, I’ve learned those codes slowly, through mistakes, conversations, research, and a whole lot of trial and error. From phonics and reading levels to understanding 11+ exam prep and choosing the right after-school clubs, I’ve realised that being an international mom in the UK means being a learner, too.

But here’s what I’ve also learned:

When we, as parents, show up intentionally, not perfectly, but consistently, our children thrive. When we bring our values from home, our resilience, our academic focus, and merge them with the systems here, our children get the best of both worlds.

So this series is for us, the international moms still learning the system, still asking questions, figuring out what Inset Day means. It’s for the mom whose child didn’t get the 11+ result she hoped for, and for the mom still searching for better ways to support her little one’s learning at home.

I’ll be sharing my own journey, the tools, the routines, the resources, and the small wins that have helped my children grow.

I’ll also be discussing what I wish I had known earlier, as well as what every international parent should know about helping their children thrive academically in the UK.

Because at the end of the day, our dreams for our children aren’t different.

We all want to raise kind, confident, capable children who know that education opens doors, no matter where they live in the world. If you’re an international mom trying to find your footing in the UK school system, this space is for you.

You’re not alone.

We’re learning together.

Just a little snippet into our very first story

Have you ever received that call from school, the one that makes your heart skip, telling you your child has done something wrong? How do you handle it, especially as an international mom navigating a system that sometimes feels unfamiliar?

This is such an important conversation, and I have a real story to share with you. What happened, what I learned, and how we can respond with grace, understanding, and confidence.

Come back here next week, on Tuesday, for the very first story in this new series. It’s a two-part story you don’t want to miss. Raw, relatable, and full of lessons for every international parent.

Let’s keep this conversation going.

Please share your stories with me @ ayodeleoloyo@gmail.com