Summer Catch-Up: Travel, Family Chaos & Finding Your Way Back To Routine

Summer is (almost) over, and we're back in Frankfurt! ☀️🍂In this lighthearted summer catch-up episode of Expecting Expats, Amanda and CJ sit down to share what their summers actually looked like—from family trips and international travel to summer camps, weddings, World Cup fever, and the very real exhaustion that comes with travelling with kids.CJ spent much of the summer at her family's holiday house in Sweden before heading to Denmark, while Amanda packed in trips to Valencia, Amsterdam and Utrecht, plus a children's sailing course back in Germany. Needless to say, neither summer was exactly restful!We chat about the joys (and challenges!) of travelling with children, including putting kids into a Spanish summer camp for the first time, navigating cultural differences around mealtimes and bedtime, and discovering that sometimes… home really is where the pretzels are. 🥨We also talk about the reality of having young children at home during the long summer break—with no school or daycare—and why getting back to a regular routine can feel like such a relief for parents.But summer wasn't all chaos. We reflect on our summer bucket lists, the spontaneous moments that ended up being some of our favourites, and the things we want to carry with us into autumn. For CJ, that's the cosy feeling of Swedish summers and spending time in nature. For Amanda, it's making more room for fun and spontaneity while letting go of some of that summer FOMO.And because autumn feels a little bit like a new year when you're a parent, we also look ahead to what's coming next—including CJ's exciting new chapter as a certified couples counsellor.In this episode, we talk about:What a summer of expat family life really looks likeTravelling around Europe with young childrenSpending the summer in Sweden, Denmark, Spain and the NetherlandsPutting children into a Spanish summer camp for the first timeThe challenges (and unexpected joys) of navigating different culturesWhy Spanish family events happening at 10pm can be a shock to the system!The never-ending work of feeding and entertaining children during school holidaysThe relief of getting back to school, daycare and regular routinesOur summer bucket lists—and whether we actually completed themSummer nights, World Cup fever and spontaneous adventuresThe funny ways our children develop a sense of belongingWhy sometimes home is where the pretzels are 🥨What we want to leave behind and carry into the autumnEmbracing cosy autumn vibes and making plans to get through the winterCJ's new chapter as a certified couples therapistPodcast RecommendationsThis episode's recommendations include:Two Cents Podcast – A witty and honest podcast about the experience of living life in Germany as African women.Camp Shame – A documentary-style, true-crime-ish podcast about a children's weight-loss camp. Definitely one for a particular mood!A little reminder for fellow expat parentsSometimes a holiday isn't actually a holiday.Travelling with children can mean cooking, cleaning, managing bedtime, navigating unfamiliar places and keeping everyone entertained—just in a different location. But that doesn't mean the memories aren't worth it.Whether your summer was full of adventures or mostly involved trying to keep everyone fed and alive, we hope this episode reminds you that you're not the only one figuring it out as you go.Thanks for joining us for this little summer update. We're so happy you're here❤️More from Amanda & CJ🌍 CJ — Worlds Apart CounselingCJ is a couples therapist who works with expat and international couples, helping partners navigate the unique challenges that can come with building a relationship and family across cultures.👉 Worlds Apart Counseling🌿 Amanda — Mindful Mama FrankfurtAmanda is a childbirth educator and doula offering childbirth education and support for international families in Frankfurt, with classes available in English.👉 Mindful Mama Frankfurt