So here we are. We have told the kids that we are moving home. They are both excited, but not entirely sure how this new life at home looks just yet. We are going back to Portland. It is home, but it will also be a new house, new schools, and new routines. This is life and how transitioning back home in under 30 days comes together for an expat family.
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We are sub 30 days to departure and I am preparing to do temporary living all over again. A few months in a hotel, rental cars, paperwork and trying to find the smoothest transition back into normal life.
We have come a long way since we first began, but forget those big avocado’s, stick with the Hass! My heart remembers the slightly scary feelings of those first few weeks and I can’t help but be proud of our family, because we made it and we had fun doing it.
We are now making a list of the last few things we want to do while we are here, making time for sweet good-byes and trying to enjoy our last few weeks in the Caribbean sun before we make our way back to the chilly Pacific Northwest.
Don’t Skip the Goodbyes
As much as the Irish goodbye appeals to many of us, I truly believe it’s important to face the emotional encounters with those that have impacted your experience. Feel the feelings and let them come as you feel them. Let your children see you process the feelings of sadness, excitement and everything in between. Celebrate the challenges and joys that have taken place while you were there.
Don’t forget to enjoy the goodbye parties. Make special dates with everyone who wants to join in, create opportunities to say your farewells, take the photos and laugh at all the funny memories you’ve created. These memories will stick with you long after you are gone.
Common Challenges Expat Families Face
In many ways, we anticipate transitioning back home being confusing and difficult to say good bye for our kids, but then again, they have transitioned many times before. With the kids being a little older this time around, it will be much easier to talk about what we are doing and how they are feeling. I am preparing for a smooth transition but I know there will be a few emotional days.
One of the biggest challenges when transitioning back home can be emotional disconnect. Friends and family may not fully understand how deeply the overseas experience shaped your family. Children may grieve the loss of friendships, routines, and identity they built abroad. They may feel like outsiders in American schools or struggle to fit into social circles that already feel established. Parents, too, may miss the sense of adventure, community, or different pace of life they found overseas.
Healthy Ways to Navigate Transitioning Back Home
The key to a smoother transition is acknowledging that returning home is a process, not a single event. Give your family permission to feel conflicted—grateful to be home while still missing life abroad.
Open communication is essential. Create space for family members to talk honestly about what they miss, what feels hard, and what they’re excited about. Normalizing these feelings helps children feel seen and supported.
Building new routines can also provide stability. While it’s tempting to recreate life exactly as it was overseas, embracing new traditions helps anchor your family in your current environment. Encourage kids to join activities that reflect their interests, not just what’s familiar.
Staying connected to the global community can ease the emotional gap. Maintaining friendships abroad, attending international events, or connecting with other repatriated families can help preserve that sense of global identity.
Finding Meaning in the Transition
While transitioning back home can be emotional and complex, it also offers an opportunity for growth. Expat families return with resilience, adaptability, and a broader worldview—qualities that can enrich life in America in powerful ways.
With patience, empathy, and intention, transitioning back home doesn’t have to mean leaving your international life behind. Instead, it becomes a chance to blend the best of both worlds and move forward as a stronger, more connected family.
Final Thoughts on Transitioning Back Home
To end on a positive, sometimes a goodbye gives you the opportunity to express your appreciation for places and people. It is an opportunity to spend quality time with friends, celebrating our favorite part of being in this community, the people you meet along the way. Besos!
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