My family moved from the US to Spain. The transition wasn't easy — here are 5 pros and cons of raising children abroad.
Business Insider
February 28, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Izabela Oquendo, a 36-year-old mother from Connecticut, moved her family to Spain in search of a slower, more fulfilling life after realizing that her outwardly successful life in the U.S. wasn’t bringing true happiness. Along with her husband and two young children, Oquendo made the move to Alicante, Spain, where they now enjoy a simpler lifestyle, lower expenses, and greater family connection. While raising children abroad has its challenges, such as language barriers and adapting to a new culture, Oquendo highlights both the difficulties and benefits of this unique experience.
One of the biggest challenges for Oquendo’s children was making friends in a new country where they didn’t speak the local language. Her daughter struggled initially to connect with classmates due to the language barrier, but enrolling her kids in an English-language camp and their eventual integration into a Spanish public school has helped them thrive socially and linguistically. Despite these hurdles, Oquendo sees this as an opportunity for her children to gain cultural exposure and bilingual skills.
Another key advantage of raising children in Spain is the sense of safety Oquendo feels compared to schools in the U.S., where gun violence remains a concern. Alicante’s schools provide a safer environment, allowing Oquendo to focus less on worrying about her children’s safety and more on building family connections. Additionally, living closer to Europe has made it easier for them to visit relatives, particularly her Polish mother, who now lives in Poland.
However, communication challenges persist for Oquendo, as she isn’t a native Spanish speaker. This can make it difficult to engage with school activities or parent groups, rely on translation apps to navigate daily tasks, and stay informed about school events. Despite these obstacles, the family’s ability to reduce their financial burden in Spain has allowed them to scale back work commitments, leading to more quality time together.
For business readers, Oquendo’s story
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Originally published on Business Insider on 2/28/2026