Introduction: Raising a Bilingual Child with PVL in Tokyo

Welcome to my blog, where I share the unique journey of raising a child with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and mild cerebral palsy bilingually. This space is dedicated to providing valuable insights for parents, researchers, and therapists who are curious about the intersection of bilingual education and neurological challenges.

I am a bilingual Japanese mother raising my son in Tokyo, blending English and Japanese into our everyday life. My child was born prematurely at 34 weeks and 1 day, weighing 2362 grams (about 5.2 lbs.), and at age three, he received a diagnosis of PVL. Our story is one of resilience, creativity, growth, and learning how to embrace the unexpected. As a parent of a child with PVL, I have navigated countless challenges, from supporting motor skill development to fostering cognitive functions to creating a bilingual environment at home. This journey has shown me the power of patience, consistency, and adaptability in embracing PVL as part of our lives and learning how to live fully with it.

What You’ll Find Here

This blog is a blend of personal experiences and evidence-based insights. I write for those who:

• Value real-world stories about raising a bilingual child with PVL and mild cerebral palsy.
• Are curious about the benefits and challenges of bilingual education for children with neurological differences.
• Want to explore how bilingualism interacts with brain plasticity and development.
• Seek a deeper understanding of what life with PVL and cerebral palsy is like beyond academic studies and data.

Clarifying the Focus of This Blog

My focus here is on sharing the unique and often overlooked journey of raising a child with PVL and mild cerebral palsy bilingually. This space is for those who are seeking to understand the intersection of language and neurodiversity in everyday life, or who want to learn how it plays out in real-world experiences. For researchers, therapists, or anyone curious about bilingual education for neurodiverse children, you may seek authentic, lived experiences to complement theoretical knowledge. Through this blog, I aim to bridge that gap, offering a real-world perspective that combines everyday realities with thoughtful analysis.

Join the Journey

Raising a child with PVL is an isolating parenting experience on its own—adding a bilingual setting can make it even more complex. Join us as we explore, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re a parent raising a bilingual child with PVL and CP, a therapist seeking deeper insights, or a researcher curious about lived experiences, this blog is for you.