Has anyone made an international move with a toddler? My husband was offered a (2 year) job in Europe beginning in [name_f]February[/name_f], when our son will be around 18 months. We both love travel and do have some family and friends in Europe (different country), but…am I silly to think that this will be a fun adventure with a very active toddler in tow? There are of course lots of other things to consider (my career, finances, distance from close family, etc), but I’d love to get your opinion on this aspect. My husband was also offered a job that would take us much closer to family, but we’d still a 2-hour flight away from anybody (we’re currently across country from family, so this would actually be a big improvement). I know the domestic offer is probably more practical considering our kid, but the wanderer in me is still itching. Any thoughts?
Not a mother (honestly not sure why I’m reading this board lol) but if you don’t move to Europe now you’ll never go because by the time it comes up again your son will be in school or you might be pregnant again or might have multiple children in school and your son won’t want to go and it will be too late. It will most likely be incredibly difficult but it’s better then the what ifs.
We talk about this often - my partner and I dream of moving to Australia, or the U.K., or Iceland, or just to the other side of our country (the U.S.). I do imagine it would be a difficult adjustment, but there would be lots of adventure in those two years, too! I say go for it - as you point out, you are already used to living far away from family, and as another person said, while it might not the be perfect time, it might be easier now than in another few years (more kids, or your son school-aged).
I’ve followed a popular site’s Motherhood Around the World series - they interview both American mothers living abroad (permanently and temporarily) and mothers native to the countries in which they’re raising their kids. It’s a lovely series and gives lots of insight how “same, same, but different” parenting (and childhood!) can be. The website is called Cup of [name_u]Jo[/name_u] - worth reading some of the posts, especially if any of them focus on the country to which you’re thinking of moving.
My friends’ parents moved everyone to [name_f]England[/name_f] for about five years when all the kids were small. When they moved back to the U.S. some of them had already begun school, but none of them think it was a difficult transition or remember living abroad feeling foreign or like a tumultuous time in their lives. They’re all Anglophiles in one way or another nowadays, so I think it had a positive impact, to stick with them like it has!
What will you enjoy, both in the moment and looking back on it? It sounds like you have a spirit of adventure, and you want to share that with your child(ren). I really do think the good outweighs the bad, and I share your restless, inner globetrotter.
Other friends of ours - Brazilian/Italian - have traveled extensively with their now-four-year-old. They’ve lived in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], Norway, and the U.K., and visit the U.S. to see friends and family at least annually. Their four-year-old loves his life - the travel is so normal for him - and their small city in the U.K. is definitely home to him.
I hope all these little anecdotes and perspectives are helpful to you! It’s not some outlandish, impossible idea! It all boils down to whether it sparks a fire in your heart.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] chiming in with another ‘go for it’! I don’t yet have kids so I’m not really qualified to comment on how hard it will or won’t be…
But as someone who loves travel but hasn’t had much opportunity to do so, the fact I’m now pregnant makes me feel horribly tied down: the financial impacts of our mortgage, maternity leave, and child-rearing will be big barriers to travel… and mtly partner and I have never in our 9 years together travelled overseas anyway, all my travel happened through academic conferences etc.
You’re living far away from family as it is, ypu both love travel… it sounds like a great opportunity.
As you said though, finances and your own career are also things you’d need to consider, and it would be really important to make sure you don’t find yourself feeling lonely and stuck at home, esp if there are language barriers: you’d need to really put yourself out there to get a new network around you.
I have a friend whose husband is in the foreign service whose done it three times. US to [name_f]India[/name_f]. [name_f]India[/name_f] to US. US to [name_u]Egypt[/name_u]. Next year they are going from [name_u]Egypt[/name_u] to Turkey. She loves it. Says the kids do great. Of course she moves with a support system sort of already in place but… she also is a jump in with both feet type of mom. She’s found playgroups, moms American groups etc before she even leaves the country she’s in. She loves it and they all do amazingly well. I’d find it much more difficult. – get your husband ot ask about what support for the family move their might be from work. (probably none but it doesn’t hurt ot ask).
Thanks so much for the responses. I’m sorry I haven’t responded more quickly, but life is chaos right now, haha. I should have said that we’d be making a move either way (either across the US or to another country), it’s just choosing which one. Both would be temporary (2-5 years) but one would bring us closer to family and be in a place whose language we spoke.
Anyway, our adventurous sides have won over and it looks like we’ll be making the move. Good vibes welcome 
[name_m]How[/name_m] exciting! I hope you’ll keep us updated every so often!
I moved from [name_f]Canada[/name_f] to Germany for a two year posting with a four year old and a 21 month old. I got pregnant with my third the first week we were there. I wouldn’t change a thing. I absolutely loved it. It is probably highly personal but I had lived in Germany before and knew I loved it, was looking forward to the change in pace and more family time and all the fun exotic things.