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Emma Lundwall Segerstrom

@emmalundwall

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2023

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Sacred space & lifestyle design
Helping women realign home, health & mindset
Creator of The Vitality Reset™
Writing on spiritual life ✨

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I recently had the opportunity to chat with Swedish Radio about what it’s like to raise kids in the U.S. as a Swedish mom! We talked about the differences in parenting styles, independence, and the cultural values that shape childhood.

This is just a short clip from the full interview, but I’d love for you to listen in!

🎧 Listen here: https://www.sverigesradio.se/embed/publication/8903233 taken in Westchester, New York by @emmalundwall

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2 years ago

Emma Lundwall Segerström bor i New York 🇺🇸 men uppfostrar sina fyra barn ”svenskt”🇸🇪.

Gensvaret blev också stort när hon publicerade en reel på Instagram om sin typiska svenska föräldrastil – och många ville hylla Sverige och det svenska sättet att vara förälder. Emma listade 10 punkter på hur föräldrastilarna skiljer sig åt i Sverige och USA. Bland punkterna fanns bland annat:

✨ 1. Uppmuntra självständighet
Många svenska barn går själva till skolan och har koll på sitt eget schema. De uppmuntras att ta mycket eget ansvar från ung ålder. Men i USA hämtas barnen länge av en förälder, oftast med bil eller skolbuss. Väldigt få barn kan gå till skolan själva eftersom det saknas ordentliga trottoarer eller säkra gångvägar på många ställen.

🌿 2. Prioritera utomhuslek
Som jag minns det så är barn i Sverige utomhus i alla väder, året runt. Man lever efter mottot ”det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder.” I USA går man inte ut alls på rasten om det är det minsta kallt/snö/regn och man har i allmänhet kortare utomhusvistelser under skoltid. Många barn äger inte regnkläder eller vinterskor.

Klicka på länk i bio för att läsa alla punkterna!

Vad tycker ni är bäst med svenska föräldrastilen? 🇸🇪
Foto: @emmalundwall by @emmalundwall

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2 years ago

How I parent as a Swedish 🇸🇪 mom in 🇺🇸

My first son was born in Sydney 🇦🇺, my second in Singapore 🇸🇬, and then we spent five years in Switzerland 🇨🇭 before moving to NYC, where number three and four were born. We now live in Westchester, just north of Manhattan in NY—but at home, we are very much a Swedish household.

Raising my kids as world citizens is something I love, but when it comes to parenting, I stay close to my Swedish roots. There’s no one right way—just different approaches, and I’m always learning as I go. I also find that I have a much more relaxed and playful approach with my younger ones!

Here are 10 ways Swedish parenting differs from the U.S.:

✨ 1. Fostering Independence Early:
Swedish kids walk to school alone, manage their time, and take on responsibilities from a young age.

🌿 2. Prioritizing Outdoor Play:
Rain or shine, kids in Sweden are outside! The motto is “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes.” 😂

⏳ 3. Minimal Overscheduling:
Free time is valued—less structured activities, more balance, play, and creativity.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 4. Gender Equality in Parenting:
Sweden’s parental leave policies encourage both parents to be equally involved.

👏 5. Avoiding Overpraise:
Instead of excessive praise, Swedish parents highlight effort, persistence, and resilience.

🎨 6. Play-Based Learning:
Preschool is all about play, exploration, and curiosity, rather than early academics.

🗣 7. Less Focus on Discipline, More on Dialogue:
Open communication and reasoning replace harsh discipline.

📱 8. Balanced Screen Time:
Swedish families set reasonable limits while encouraging outdoor and creative play. I can write a whole separate post on this…

🌱 9. Encouraging Healthy Risk-Taking:
Kids are trusted with real tools (like knives for carving) and are encouraged to explore.

🥗 10. Valuing Family Meals & Simple Food:
Mealtime is sacred and unhurried—home-cooked, wholesome food brings families together at the end of each day.

💬 I love learning from my surroundings! What are your favorite parenting approaches or tips? 🥰 #swedishparenting #childhoodunplugged #mindfulparenting #raisingkids #scandinavianliving #parentingtips #momlife taken in New York, New York by @emmalundwall

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2 years ago

Post Abraham-Hicks weekend workshop 🤍✨💫 #iykyk taken in Del Mar, California by @emmalundwall

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16 days ago

California living, but New York will always have our hearts 🤍⚾️ Elliott went to his first Yankees game as a tiny baby in New York and tonight Julian got his very first Yankees game here in San Diego 🥹 New coast but the same home team…and a Yankees win! 💙 Go Yankees! 🗽⚾️ taken in Petco Park by @emmalundwall

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a month ago

The California school bus ☀️🚲🌴 Happy Monday! 🤍 taken in Encinitas, California by @emmalundwall

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a month ago

Today my firstborn started college 🥹🤍 And the same week, my youngest started his first week of “real” school. And now I’m sitting in my car waiting for Back to School Night, in our new hometown, in our new life in California, just taking it all in… Life is so big and beautiful and full of chapters you can’t quite imagine until you’re suddenly living them 🙏🏻 Keep dreaming, imagining, believing in what might be possible - sometimes you look around and realize you’re living inside a life you once only dreamed about 🤍 So proud of you, Theo and so grateful for all of it 🥹 taken in Encinitas, California by @emmalundwall

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2 months ago

We did it! 🤍 We moved to California and all four kids are officially in school. (Well, technically four kids, four different schools, in a few different places right now…) As I’m writing this, Carl is in Boulder, Colorado helping Theo move into his college dorm 😮 (I still can’t quite believe I’m saying that…our oldest is moving into college!) And this morning, I dropped Julian off for his very first day of “real” school 🥰 He’s starting TK, Transitional Kindergarten 🥹 Noah and Elliott already started their new schools here in California last week. (School starts so much earlier here than it did in New York, but they also finish earlier for summer, which I’m already thinking will be perfect for future Midsummer trips to Sweden 🇸🇪) And now I’m sitting here in our new bedroom, with a green juice that I just had delivered, just breathing 🙏🏻 After a couple of months in Sweden with the boys, where I was in mom mode 24/7, which was intense and exhausting and also something I loved, all four of my children are now in school for the first time ever, which feels amazing - and a little bittersweet ❤️ And I also just want to say I’m sorry that I haven’t been in touch with so many of you. We didn’t have a goodbye party and I didn’t manage farewell lunches or dinners or really any of the goodbyes I imagined we would have… We landed from Sweden, packed up our entire life and our house in New York in about a week and now here we are, Southern California 🌴☀️ Encinitas, North County San Diego. And I have to say, I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier. As much as I miss everyone back in New York, I know in my heart that this was the right move for us. There is something about being here that already feels like our place and I’m just so, so grateful. And I will be back in touch, I promise ♥️ (Just as soon as I get through the approximately one million boxes currently sitting in our garage…) Much love Xx taken in Encinitas, California by @emmalundwall

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2 months ago

Swedish summer ’26 🇸🇪☀️🤍 taken in Tällberg, Dalarna, Sweden by @emmalundwall

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We’re moving ❤️ After many wonderful years in New York, we’re leaving the East Coast and making Encinitas, California our new home. If you know me, you know how much I love sunshine, the ocean and outdoor living. I always joke that I’m a California girl at heart, despite being born and raised in Sweden. Ever since we lived in Sydney years ago, we’ve dreamed of returning to that slower, coastal way of life. Every visit to Southern California has given us that same feeling, that this is where our hearts feel most at home. This isn’t about leaving somewhere we don’t love, quite the opposite. New York has been the place we’ve lived the longest since leaving Sweden and that says everything about how much this chapter has meant to us. We have built beautiful friendships here, watched our children grow up here and made memories we’ll carry forever. Leaving is definitely bittersweet. But this opportunity felt right, a healthier work-life balance for Carl, more time together as a family, endless days outdoors and being close to the ocean again feels like exactly what we’re ready for. If I’ve seemed a little quiet lately, I’m so sorry. The timing has been…a lot. Theo’s high school graduation, hosting family from Sweden, flying to San Diego for a whirlwind house-hunting trip, preparing our New York home for sale and renovating, buying a new home from across the country, working with a designer from a distance, enrolling the boys in new schools, packing up our lives, while also downsizing and selling two properties in Sweden (we’re still keeping our main house and apartment here). Our family has always believed in adventure, in saying yes to new chapters even when they’re a little scary. We’re especially grateful to our boys because this is a huge transition, especially for a teenager, and we wouldn’t be doing it unless we truly believed it was the best next step for every one of us. And to our New York family…thank you 🙏🏻 We will miss you more than you know ❤️ (Please come visit, we’ll always have room for you 🥰) Here’s to new beginnings and the next adventure ☀️🌊 taken in Encinitas, California by @emmalundwall

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3 months ago

Happy 4th from Sweden 🇺🇸🇸🇪 Normally we’d be taking our annual Fourth of July family photo today, but Carl is already back in the U.S. for work and Theo is off on his own adventure with friends before joining us here in Sweden next week 🥰 Sending lots of love to all our American friends today, so grateful for the people, friendships and memories this country has brought into our lives 🙏🏻❤️ taken in Tällberg, Dalarna, Sweden by @emmalundwall

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Landed in Sweden and slowly settling into summer mode 🇸🇪 A few days of getting over the jet lag, slowing down and easing back into life in the countryside at our home here. The quiet, the fresh air and these endless summer evenings where it’s almost midnight and still light outside never stop amazing me. So grateful for five weeks here with family to recharge after a very busy few weeks 🙏🏻 taken in Tällberg, Dalarna, Sweden by @emmalundwall

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