Episode 14: Two Kids. No House. No Job. No Regrets.

Episode OverviewRowan is back for her third appearance, picking up where episode 13 left off.She left her dream job, sold her house, and took her family on a nine-month trip through Europe with Boundless Life, a program that handles the logistics for families who want to travel abroad long term. This episode covers what world schooling looks like day to day, what’s hard about it, and what changed for Rowan about motherhood once she stepped outside American parenting culture.Key Topics• What Boundless Life is and how the program works• World schooling and the Boundless Quest curriculum• How Rowan’s two daughters adjusted differently based on age and stage• The parts of long-term family travel you learn the hard way• Community on the road, from other families to local staff• How living abroad shifted Rowan’s view of American motherhood standards• Transitioning back home and the next career moveEpisode Statistics• Boundless Life offers 3 month, 9 month, and 3 to 6 week camp cohort options• Rowan’s family spent 3 months each in Greece, Montenegro, and Spain• MAMD Community gets 400 euros off their first Boundless Life cohort with Rowan’s discount codeEpisode Highlights[00:00:00 - 00:02:00] Catching Up With RowanShelley recaps Rowan’s story so far: fertility struggles, two natural births, a miscarriage in between, and a postpartum experience defined more by anxiety than depression. Rowan went back to work 12 weeks after her second child, pumping in her office and barely sleeping. Episode 13 ended with Rowan saying women can have it all, just not at the same time, and this episode picks up with her doing exactly that.[00:02:00 - 00:07:00] Selling the House and Signing Up for Boundless LifeAfter eight years, Rowan left her dream job, sold the house, and took her family on the road. She explains why she chose Boundless Life over planning international travel on her own: the program handles housing, school enrollment, and community for digital nomad families. Her family did the full nine-month program, spending three months each in Greece, Montenegro, and Spain.[00:07:00 - 00:11:00] Inside the Boundless ClassroomThe curriculum blends the Finnish model with some Montessori and Waldorf, and it stays consistent across every location. Kids get a student profile that follows them from school to school so teachers know where they left off. The daily schedule and even the classroom setup look the same no matter the country, which made transitions easier for Rowan’s kids.[00:11:00 - 00:17:00] The Quest: What Kids Are Actually LearningEach three-month cohort centers on a sustainability focused “quest.” In Greece it was food access and nutrition, in Montenegro it was global education access, and in Spain it’s nature and conservation. Older kids also take on independent Boundless projects. Rowan’s daughter has built a Lego dragon, a cardboard Balinese house, and most recently launched her own gymnastics class for younger kids on the beach.[00:17:00 - 00:21:00] The Hard Parts Nobody Talks AboutRowan is honest that it hasn’t all been roses. She’s had days of real doubt, wondering if the family made a mistake or if constant upheaval is unfair to her kids. The hardest part for her is being away from family and coordinating FaceTime calls across time zones with grandparents.[00:21:00 - 00:24:00] Packing Light Was Never Going to Be Rowan’s SkillMoving every three months means constantly deciding what stays and what goes, and Rowan admits she overpacks. Toys are the hardest category, since her kids collect things and then have to let them go every time they move. She says three months isn’t enough time to settle in, and if she does this again she’d choose at least six months per location.[00:24:00 - 00:27:00] Two Kids, Two Very Different ExperiencesRowan’s older daughter is easygoing and adjusts quickly, but in one cohort she was the youngest in her class and dealt with exclusion from older girls for the first time. Her younger daughter takes longer to settle into each new location, but once she does, she doesn’t want to leave. Both girls have had to learn resilience in their own way.[00:27:00 - 00:32:00] Community on the RoadRowan describes the Boundless community as one of the biggest and most unexpected benefits of the program, from deep friendships with other families to genuine support from local staff. She also shares what she’s noticed about motherhood and age across the different countries she’s lived in, including Spain’s late night, family inclusive culture.[00:32:00 - 00:35:00] What Changed About How Rowan Sees MotherhoodLiving abroad showed Rowan how much of the American pressure to constantly schedule, volunteer, and fill every hour isn’t actually necessary. She and her family have leaned into a slower pace, and she’s noticed how exhausting the go, go, go culture is, especially for older parents.[00:35:00 - 00:37:00] The Next Chapter: Coming HomeAs the nine-month program wraps up, Rowan and her family are preparing to transition back to the States. She’s looking for remote work in fitness, recreation, or program management to ease the return, and Shelley puts out an open call to listeners who might be able to help.[00:37:00 - 00:39:00] Buy the TicketsRowan shares the piece of advice that pushed her family to make this leap: her late stepfather’s final message to his grandkids was to ‘buy the tickets.’ She encourages listeners to say yes to the fun, restful, or soul feeding opportunity in front of them, since the laundry and admin will still be there when they get back.[00:39:00 - 00:43:00] Raising Kids in Places Built for FamiliesRowan and Shelley talk about how much more integrated kids are into daily life across Europe, from cafes with attached playgrounds to late night dinners with kids still playing nearby. The episode closes with details on the Boundless Life discount code for listeners who want to sign up.The Boundless Life Model at a GlanceWhat’s Included:• Full or partial school enrollment through an on site education center• Fully furnished, kid friendly housing within walking distance of the school• A co-working hub for remote work• Built in community with other traveling families• Cultural experiences and activities at every locationWhy Rowan Chose It Over Independent Travel:• Removed the stress of finding reliable housing abroad• Removed the guesswork of picking a school system in a new country• Let the family focus on which country to visit, not the logistics of getting thereKey Quotes“Buy the tickets.” — Rowan, quoting her late stepfather’s advice“The things that you think you need to do, they will still be there when you get back.” — Rowan“Resilience is the single best thing any human can learn.” — Shelley“Women can have it all, but just not at the same time.” — RowanPractical TakeawaysFor Middle-Aged Mothers:• If constant upheaval feels heavy, know that kids can and do adapt, even through hard days• Notice which “musts” in your schedule are actually optional• A slower pace is something you can choose to prioritize nowFor Families Considering World Schooling or Long Term Travel:• Look into programs like Boundless Life if the logistics of housing and school abroad feel overwhelming• Expect an adjustment period at every new stop, and plan for it instead of being surprised by it• Kids at different ages and stages will experience the same trip completely differentlyFor Everyone:• Say yes to the opportunity in front of you. The laundry will wait• Community, whether built into a program or found on your own, makes hard transitions easier• Resilience isn’t about avoiding hard days. It’s about growing through themResources MentionedPrograms and Partners:• Boundless Life, world schooling and family travel program. Link and discount code (400 euros off a first cohort) in the show notesPrevious Episodes:• Episode 10 with Rowan• Episode 13 with RowanContact:• Email [email protected] to connect with Rowan about remote job opportunities in fitness, recreation, or program managementCall to Action• Share this episode with any mom considering long term travel or world schooling• Use Rowan’s discount code to save 400 euros on your first Boundless Life cohort• Subscribe and leave reviews to spread awareness• Email: [email protected]: Our community is stronger and better because you are in it. You belong here exactly as you are. Get full access to Middle-Aged Mama Drama at shelleybee.substack.com/subscribe