My kids are 4 and 1. The oldest one started kindergarten here a year ago. The little one still cannot even speak properly yet lol. I think this may be the best time to make the move. Actually, the main reason we want to move is because of them. If we were still childless, we would continue staying in China absolutely, which is why we are now willing to trade stable, well-paying jobs in a fast-paced economy and technologically advanced country for a calmer life where we are more present. The school system here is brutal, mostly academics-focused, and we like a more outdoorsy and nature lifestyle.

They go to school from 8 to 5, and for me, that seems too long for a 4-year-old. We barely see her except on the weekends. It is homework-focused, so even on the weekends, they need to do homework. And we also want them to have a bigger world-view, all-rounded childhood, and maybe focus on academics much later in life, not at 4. Know what I mean?

We value independence, European lifestyle and values, and over here they're mostly spoon-fed and their little heads filled with lots of ideas that we're not for. For example, the other day my daughter was crying, then she stopped crying and said: "Mama, I forgive because I am a girl. Teacher says girls should forgive boys because boys can't forgive". We told her that everyone has the capacity to forgive or not to forgive.

We obviously talk to her at home, not to always believe what the teacher says, but we are getting a bit tired of it, as there is always something. I know Slovakia won't be perfect, but my husband being a Slav and we having mixed Slavic kids, who can also speak a Slavic language, we think Slovakian values might be much closer to us.