I really felt into this one. Having just moved home to the States from England after 5 years. The grey and long periods of darkness in winter really started to weigh on my soul, and yet now I miss the culture, the “richness” of its expression, how easy it was to explore another bit of Europe. And yet, pregnant with my third, it does feel comforting to be within reach of my own mom which I didn’t have with the birth of my second.
I wrestle with all of this too! I am a born traveller but sometimes think ‘is this indulgent? Am I ungrateful for the amazing life we have in Australia?’ We took our kids to Europe for three months last year. Because the kids have grown up in a small, not very diverse town, I wanted them to be immersed in a richer, more creative culture. I was also craving that sense of aliveness. While we were there, we talked about how great Australia was. Now we’re back all we talk about is how incredible Europe was, and buying an apartment in Paris! But I think we need to keep dreaming up adventures, and returning home. There’s a balance that works for us and, thankfully, my husband is pragmatic too so we don’t follow all my crazy ideas.
Thanks for sharing your feelings on this. Honestly, reading your words validates my need to Google ‘best places for family adventure’ once a week 💜
Im in the exact same position and similar thoughts. We’re from the US and have been in Spain for 2 years now with our 3 kids (10, 8 & 4). An ocean and 2 continents away from our family (2 oceans away from my family). We’re thriving here as a family, never been closer, integrated into the community local and expat alike… and at a crossroads of whether to stay or go. We can choose either. No pressure only choice, it’s a privledge and it’s wide open for us. We aren’t sure the long term future is here for us but we also aren’t sure that it isn’t.
I read the title and completely align with ‘and I also don’t’. We’ve been away from home for almost 7 years but don’t have the option of returning home often at all due to finances. So the stress and responsibility for my parents back home in Australia, plus my kids missing out on grandparents and knowing their heritage mounts. Sacrificing so much to visit home in 3 weeks even if my husband has to stay back here in the states to work but I can’t wait. Thanks for sharing all this, enjoyed reading your perspective x
Constantly simmering on this... we made the move to Sydney 8 years ago, both my husband and my's parents live in QLD. We love living by the beach and surrounded by so many different cultures... just feels a touch more connected to the greater world... but the combination of working in the film industry where every week looks a little different, and the absence of any family support with our new bub... The draw back to QLD is strong. But only, because our biological family is there. We desire rhythm and some sort of routine, so we can both get our needs met - which we need support to maintain consistently. It's truly a beautiful part of the world and I'm so grateful for the childhood I had... and yet... it also feels 'too comfortable'. I remember looking around as a kid and thinking 'I hope I'm not an adult here'... like it's not good enough. Like the adults around me had failed in some way, to be in such a suburban place... it's NOT AT ALL of what I think of my own parents and our close family/friends... they thrive there. But it felt wrong to me... a little out of place. But maybe part of growing up is letting go of desires that are no longer ours... do I want to continue chasing dreams (that still excite me) that require living away from family? Or, is what I desire, to rest into simplicity and romanticise the heck out of the stuff that I've pushed against the last 10 years... do I have it in me, to create and sustain our families energy/preferences/attitudes in a part of the world, that isn't completely aligned... is that my challenge as a mother? To create a place that feels like home. And hope that a new community, that we haven't seen before, has existed all along, or are flocking to those areas also. What I keep coming back to... is that neither our old world or our parents world feels right. I don't know what the answers are, but some things need to shift. We need support from our family and I want our parents to be bigger parts of our kids lives, like I was so lucky to grow up with. But - I also need an aligned community (in the flesh) to keep drawing from, so that I feel less alone/fish out of water. And my husband needs a big city to keep pursuing his craft. Sigh... round and round we go... ha! Is this the journey? x
Sacrifice and Sustenance - this line has resonated so much
So many unfinished thoughts on it too! Xxx
I really felt into this one. Having just moved home to the States from England after 5 years. The grey and long periods of darkness in winter really started to weigh on my soul, and yet now I miss the culture, the “richness” of its expression, how easy it was to explore another bit of Europe. And yet, pregnant with my third, it does feel comforting to be within reach of my own mom which I didn’t have with the birth of my second.
I wrestle with all of this too! I am a born traveller but sometimes think ‘is this indulgent? Am I ungrateful for the amazing life we have in Australia?’ We took our kids to Europe for three months last year. Because the kids have grown up in a small, not very diverse town, I wanted them to be immersed in a richer, more creative culture. I was also craving that sense of aliveness. While we were there, we talked about how great Australia was. Now we’re back all we talk about is how incredible Europe was, and buying an apartment in Paris! But I think we need to keep dreaming up adventures, and returning home. There’s a balance that works for us and, thankfully, my husband is pragmatic too so we don’t follow all my crazy ideas.
Thanks for sharing your feelings on this. Honestly, reading your words validates my need to Google ‘best places for family adventure’ once a week 💜
Im in the exact same position and similar thoughts. We’re from the US and have been in Spain for 2 years now with our 3 kids (10, 8 & 4). An ocean and 2 continents away from our family (2 oceans away from my family). We’re thriving here as a family, never been closer, integrated into the community local and expat alike… and at a crossroads of whether to stay or go. We can choose either. No pressure only choice, it’s a privledge and it’s wide open for us. We aren’t sure the long term future is here for us but we also aren’t sure that it isn’t.
Petaaaa...this was everything for me right now!
I read the title and completely align with ‘and I also don’t’. We’ve been away from home for almost 7 years but don’t have the option of returning home often at all due to finances. So the stress and responsibility for my parents back home in Australia, plus my kids missing out on grandparents and knowing their heritage mounts. Sacrificing so much to visit home in 3 weeks even if my husband has to stay back here in the states to work but I can’t wait. Thanks for sharing all this, enjoyed reading your perspective x
Constantly simmering on this... we made the move to Sydney 8 years ago, both my husband and my's parents live in QLD. We love living by the beach and surrounded by so many different cultures... just feels a touch more connected to the greater world... but the combination of working in the film industry where every week looks a little different, and the absence of any family support with our new bub... The draw back to QLD is strong. But only, because our biological family is there. We desire rhythm and some sort of routine, so we can both get our needs met - which we need support to maintain consistently. It's truly a beautiful part of the world and I'm so grateful for the childhood I had... and yet... it also feels 'too comfortable'. I remember looking around as a kid and thinking 'I hope I'm not an adult here'... like it's not good enough. Like the adults around me had failed in some way, to be in such a suburban place... it's NOT AT ALL of what I think of my own parents and our close family/friends... they thrive there. But it felt wrong to me... a little out of place. But maybe part of growing up is letting go of desires that are no longer ours... do I want to continue chasing dreams (that still excite me) that require living away from family? Or, is what I desire, to rest into simplicity and romanticise the heck out of the stuff that I've pushed against the last 10 years... do I have it in me, to create and sustain our families energy/preferences/attitudes in a part of the world, that isn't completely aligned... is that my challenge as a mother? To create a place that feels like home. And hope that a new community, that we haven't seen before, has existed all along, or are flocking to those areas also. What I keep coming back to... is that neither our old world or our parents world feels right. I don't know what the answers are, but some things need to shift. We need support from our family and I want our parents to be bigger parts of our kids lives, like I was so lucky to grow up with. But - I also need an aligned community (in the flesh) to keep drawing from, so that I feel less alone/fish out of water. And my husband needs a big city to keep pursuing his craft. Sigh... round and round we go... ha! Is this the journey? x