Have you ever dreamed of living in a foreign country?

Packing up and settling into a new culture overseas is a dream a lot of people pursue, and one that many parents feel is going to have to wait.

It is possible to live as an ex-pat, though, even with young kids in the picture, and more and more parents are turning their attention from the domestic housing markets to picturesque faraway places to raise their children in.

 

 

As remote work opportunities continue to flourish, and location becomes more choice and less obligation, the possibilities are opening up, and parents finally get to join in on the fun.

If you have grandiose dreams of packing up the family and trying on another country for size, don’t let life pass you by before you’ve had the chance to try it. It’s more than possible – families everywhere are doing it, and they’re saying it’s incredible.

 

Why Parents Are Becoming Globetrotters

 

While there are certainly some perks to raising your children in the same place for most of their lives, many parents are looking at living abroad with their children as a means of enriching their experiences.

For many parents, the draw in taking their kids to new places for more than just a vacation, but a temporary living situation, is about allowing them to embrace and absorb new cultures. Children pick up on new languages remarkably fast, and they grow up with an ingrained understanding of diversity, instead of one that has to be taught.

 

 

Their food preferences become more varied, and they become more independent. In a new country where even Mom and Dad are new to everything, children are forced to figure more out on their own. In some places, they’re given more independence and autonomy, like in Japan, where it’s very common for young children to run errands for their families on their own.

Many parents also report incredible bonding experiences during these overseas stints. At home, you have all of the answers, but as a parent in a new country, you have to solve more problems together. Children participate in decisions and problem solving more actively, and families bond over these experiences together.

There are some families who choose to visit impoverished and third world countries as well, often in an exercise on gaining perspective on “first world problems”. They report that these places teach their children gratitude and encourage them to think about what they can do for the world, rather than waiting for the world to offer them everything they ask for.

 

 

Figuring Out the Logistics

 

It’s an incredible experience, but what stops many parents from considering even a temporary overseas move are the inevitable conflicts that lie in the logistics. When you have a mortgage, friends, family, a job, and a great school, how do you leave all of that behind and just go?

There’s no one simple answer, and as any family of ex-pats will tell you, it’s something you’ll need to be persistent in figuring out. There will be hurdles, there will be challenges, and all you can do is prepare to the best of your ability and keep trying until you figure it out.

 

Your House

 

If you’re a property owner, one of the first things you’ll need to consider is what you’ll do with your home while you’re away. If you’re not interested in selling it, you’ll either want to move everything out of it and rent it to cover the mortgage or hire a caretaker for the property.

If you rent, plan to work with a property management company. If you plan to keep the house as is, begin the process of looking for a trustworthy caretaker as soon as possible. This person will be responsible for maintaining your lawn, checking on plumbing systems, and keeping an eye on the home while you’re away.

 

 

School

 

Most parents that decide to live abroad with their children typically transition to a homeschooling model for the sake of simplicity. Traveling offers incredible educational opportunities and unique ways to build a curriculum that’s more adventure-based, less textbook.

Be sure to keep up with the curriculum standards of your home country while you’re away so that your child doesn’t fall behind, and look into state regulations before you leave to ensure your child isn’t marked as truant.

 

Money

 

Preparing financially to live abroad can feel daunting, but it only takes dedication to saving to get started. Build an emergency fund that you can tap into if you should ever get stuck somewhere, and make it as large as you can afford to before you take the plunge.

If you could live anywhere in the world with your children, where would you go?