The decision to move to another country isn’t one we’ve made lightly, but it’s not rooted in fear or regret. At its core, this choice is about hope, excitement, and the joy of building the life we’ve always dreamed of. It’s about running toward something, not away.
For years, we’ve imagined a life where our family could grow in a place that feels aligned with our values and dreams. A place where safety, connection, and a slower, more intentional pace of life create the foundation for our future. Now, after years of dreaming, planning, and wondering, we’re finally making it happen.
This move is about the kind of life we want to create, one filled with possibility, discovery, and belonging. It’s about stepping into a new chapter that feels full of promise, not just for us, but for our children. While leaving the familiar isn’t easy, the pull of what lies ahead is far greater.
Choosing Now Over Never
For years, there’s been a quiet voice in the back of our minds whispering, What if?
What if we wait too long and this dream fades away? What if we wake up someday and realize we’ve missed our chance? What if we don’t do this now, while our kids are still small and the leap still feels possible?
That voice has grown louder with time, and we’ve realized that staying, even out of comfort, feels heavier than the uncertainty of going. The urgency of now or never has become impossible to ignore, and we’re finally ready to listen.
This isn’t about regret or running out of time. It’s about living fully in the time we have. It’s about showing our children what it looks like to dream boldly, take risks, and create a life that feels true to who we are.
The Fast Pace That Steals the Joy
Life in the U.S. often feels like a race with no finish line. There’s always something to do, somewhere to be, and a list of tasks waiting to be crossed off. That constant hustle has left us feeling drained and disconnected from the things that matter most. While this is not a uniquely U.S. problem, it is one we feel is enabled by the culture fostered here.
We want something different for our family. We want long afternoons where time feels slow and expansive. We want quiet moments with our kids that aren’t rushed. We want a life where we wake up each day feeling present, not overwhelmed.
This move is a conscious choice to step off the treadmill and into something more intentional. It’s about creating space for what really matters: our family, our time, and the simple joys that make up a life worth living.
The Privilege and the Sacrifice
One of the things that makes this possible is the privilege of being able to entertain a dream like this at all, and I don’t take that lightly. Moving to another country requires resources, planning, and sacrifice. For us, that sacrifice includes giving up a large chunk of the financial growth we’ve made in recent years. The sale of our home will fund this move, but it also means losing the stability of our greatest asset.
We are trading something tangible, something secure, for the hope of what this dream could give us in return. There’s a book I read, Die With Zero, that challenges the idea of holding onto what you’ve built out of fear or obligation. It encourages you to use your resources to create a life rich in experiences rather than things. That idea resonates deeply with me. What we stand to gain from this move—a slower, safer, and more intentional life—feels worth the risks. This isn’t just a financial decision. It’s a choice to prioritize the things that matter most to us.
A Political Climate That Doesn’t Fit
It’s impossible to talk about why we’re leaving without mentioning the political landscape in the United States. Over the years, it has become a source of unease for us. The growing division, the constant tension, and the feeling that progress is overshadowed by conflict have made it harder and harder to feel at home here.
We’ve found ourselves questioning whether the values we hold most deeply are reflected in the laws and decisions shaping our country. As parents, we want to raise our children in a place where fairness, safety, and community feel like priorities, not afterthoughts. While no place is perfect, we’ve realized that the UK aligns more closely with the kind of life we want to create—one that feels steady and connected instead of fraught and uncertain.
The Weight of Safety
As a teacher, school safety wasn’t just a worry; it was a reality. One day, a school just one block away experienced an active shooter. It shook our entire community and changed the way I viewed schools and the communities we trust to protect our children. At the time, I was teaching middle school, and my son, who was just a year old, was in the daycare in the same hallway as my classroom. As we were in the corner of my room, waiting, one of the students asked how I could protect them while my son was next door. That changed me.
Every teacher experiences these moments differently, and I know my experience was more intense than most. It shifted the way I thought about schools, about safety, and about what children deserve. My son, my daughter, and every child deserve safety and an education system that prioritizes their well-being.
I refuse to compromise on the value of education, so I’ve worked to reimagine what it all can look like for my family. This move is about creating a future where my children can grow up knowing their school and their community are places they can trust.
Embracing the Adventure
This isn’t just about a change of scenery. It’s about redefining what life looks like for us as a family. It’s about teaching our children what it means to dream boldly, take risks, and embrace the unknown with open hearts.
We know there will be hard days. We’ll miss the people and places that have shaped us. We’ll second-guess ourselves at times. But when we think about the life we’re building, it’s clear this is the next chapter we’re meant to write.
We’re leaping because we’re ready. Ready to run toward the life we’ve dreamed of, ready to leave the “what-ifs” behind, and ready to see where this adventure takes us.
