One of the hardest parts of expat life isn’t the packing, the paperwork, or even the move itself.
It’s the quiet question that follows you into every new place:
“Where do I fit now?”
As an expat mum, you can be surrounded by school runs, activities, and welcome coffee mornings yet still feel on the outside looking in.
You’ve left behind your support network. Your familiar routines.
The version of yourself that felt confident and known.
When we moved from Singapore to Houston, everything looked settled quickly from the outside — schools sorted, house organised, schedules running.
But belonging didn’t happen overnight.
There’s an in-between phase in every move.
You’re no longer where you came from, but you’re not fully rooted where you are.
It can feel lonely and uncomfortable. It can make you question yourself.
You’re simply in transition.
For me, rebuilding belonging has been about small, intentional steps:
- Morning dog walks to feel connected to the neighbourhood
- Starting conversations at school pick-up — even when it feels awkward
- Joining a local tennis team to reconnect with something that feels like me
- Allowing myself time to adjust instead of expecting to feel at home immediately
Belonging abroad isn’t instant. It’s built slowly — through daily habits and quiet courage.
If you’re in that in-between phase, you’re not failing.