23 Apr 2025
Imagine raising your child through video calls for years. For many Nepali workers living in Finland, this is not a hypothetical scenario. It's their everyday reality. While they work hard and strive to provide a better life for their loved ones back home, the emotional cost of being physically distant from their children often goes unnoticed.
Tens of thousands of Nepali migrants in Finland contribute to their families by regularly sending remittances. But what’s often hidden behind the act to send money to Nepal from Finland is a deep sense of longing, guilt, and emotional strain caused by separation. This blog dives into the real psychological and social toll of long-distance parenting and how Nepali expats can cope while supporting their families from afar.
Here is detailed information about Nepali long-distance parenting.
Over the last decade, Finland has become an increasingly attractive destination for Nepali workers, primarily due to the country’s need for labor in specific sectors. Roles in elderly care, construction, hospitality, and cleaning have seen a rising demand, drawing many migrants from Nepal in search of better wages and job security.
The migration trend, especially after 2010, has surged with the help of recruitment agencies and word-of-mouth from community members who previously moved to Finland. For most Nepali workers, the core motivation remains one: financial stability. They move abroad to earn and send consistent remittances, which have become a backbone for many households back home. This financial support is often prioritized over physical presence in their children's lives.
When a parent leaves to work abroad, the family structure at home undergoes a shift. In most cases, children are left under the care of spouses, grandparents, or extended family members. Nepal’s traditionally joint family system offers some support, but it cannot fill the emotional void left by an absent parent.
Parenting responsibilities are divided or transferred entirely, which creates confusion and often changes family dynamics. Children may struggle with attachment or discipline, and the parent abroad may feel increasingly disconnected from daily decision-making. The role of a parent becomes transactional, focused on providing financially rather than emotionally.
Digital tools like WhatsApp and Messenger have bridged many gaps in migrant communication. Yet, they are not perfect replacements for physical presence. Most Nepali workers in Finland work long shifts, often in labor-intensive or irregular jobs. Coordinating calls across time zones becomes difficult.
Children, especially younger ones, may find it hard to build or maintain strong emotional bonds through screens. Missing out on key milestones such as birthdays, school events, or festivals adds to the sense of absence. The lack of emotional engagement often leads to misunderstandings or emotional distancing over time.
Even when Nepali parents in Finland wish to bring their children or spouses with them, it’s rarely easy. Finland's immigration rules are strict, particularly regarding family reunification. Applicants must meet income thresholds, have suitable housing, and often prove language skills or employment status.
These requirements create a financial burden on migrant workers. For many, the cost of fulfilling the criteria is so high that they postpone the idea of bringing their families. Even when they succeed, the bureaucratic process is time-consuming and emotionally taxing.
Long distance parenting has severe impacts on both children and parents mental health.
Living alone in a foreign country, far away from children, is emotionally overwhelming. Many Nepali workers experience feelings of guilt, loneliness, and anxiety. They constantly worry about their child's education, health, and emotional development, while also battling work pressure abroad.
Access to culturally appropriate mental health care in Finland is limited. Language barriers and cultural stigma around seeking psychological help often stop Nepali parents from reaching out. The emotional labor of being both a parent and a breadwinner, especially from a distance, leads to emotional burnout.
Despite the challenges, many Nepali workers find ways to stay emotionally connected. Regular scheduled video calls, sending gifts or recorded messages, and staying involved in academic decisions help bridge the gap. Some parents narrate bedtime stories through voice notes or assist with homework online, maintaining some form of presence in daily life.
Support also comes from the Nepali community in Finland. Peer groups, cultural gatherings, and religious events provide a sense of belonging and emotional relief. In some areas, NGOs and social organizations offer counseling or legal aid to help with family reunification or emotional support services. Organizations like the Nepalese Society of Finland often host cultural events and support groups to help workers deal with isolation and parent from afar.
For those sending money transfer from Finland to Nepal, being part of a support group also helps share financial tips and remittance solutions that are cost-effective and reliable.
Children growing up without one or both parents around can face serious emotional difficulties. They may feel abandoned or confused about the absence. Even if they understand the reason, it doesn’t replace the need for a parent’s affection and guidance.
Over time, this can affect their academic performance, social relationships, and self-esteem. The absence becomes especially problematic during teenage years when emotional support is crucial. The child might develop resentment, or in some cases, withdraw emotionally from the parent entirely.
The longer the separation continues, the more strain it puts on the parent-child relationship. It becomes harder to rebuild closeness, especially if the parent returns after years of absence. Many children grow up emotionally distant from their parents, which may lead to difficulties in reconnecting even after physical reunification.
In some families, identity issues arise—children may not know whether to follow the values of the caregiver or the absent parent. This emotional confusion can have long-term implications on their psychological well-being.
Long-distance parenting is one of the most emotionally challenging aspects of migration. While the financial benefits of working in Finland help provide a better life for families back home, the emotional toll can be heavy. Both parents and children suffer in silence, struggling with separation, emotional disconnection, and long-term psychological consequences.
Yet, with the right support systems, regular communication, and mental health awareness, Nepali families can cope better with these challenges. As migrants continue to send money to Nepal online from Finland, it is equally important to find ways to stay emotionally present in their children’s lives.
Policymakers must also consider making family reunification more accessible, and community organizations must step up to offer emotional and legal support. Migrant workers deserve not only financial tools but also the means to maintain meaningful connections with their loved ones.
They can schedule regular video calls, send voice messages, assist with schoolwork remotely, and participate in important decisions related to their children’s education and health.
Local Nepali communities, religious organizations, and NGOs sometimes offer emotional support, counseling, and legal aid. These groups often hold events that help reduce loneliness and promote cultural bonding.
Not easily. Finnish immigration rules for family reunification require proof of income, housing, and other conditions, which can be hard to meet for many low-wage workers.
Some children adjust well with the support of extended family, but many face emotional challenges, including anxiety, academic issues, and difficulties forming secure attachments.
Trusted remittance services like ACE Money Transfer provide secure, fast, and affordable ways to send money while ensuring transparency and reliability for both the sender and receiver.
