Our family lived and worked abroad in Barcelona for 5 weeks this summer. We rented an AirB&B that was in a fun, vibrant neighborhood. Settling in for 5 weeks helped our experience feel more like life and less like a vacation. We began planning about 6 months ahead of our adventure, prepared our budget, and booked our kids into camps so they’d have their own experience and we could have time and space to rest. We each had our own takeaways from the adventure, and I’ll share three things I learned here.

First off, each child was enrolled in an activity they loved: my oldest took a fashion design course at the local college, my middle trained at a local elite soccer academy, and my youngest took a drawing course. I worked a bit, took lots of time to explore and find inspiration. I actively took a break from caregiving. My husband worked a little and relaxed. We spent our time intentionally reconnecting after a school year living in multiple households.

3 Lessons I Learned:

1.     You need fewer objects than you think. If you've ever stayed in a rental, you know they come furnished with the essentials. During our 5 weeks, we didn't feel the need to go out and buy anything that was "missing" from the apartment. The kitchen had just enough to cook a solid meal; we didn't need any gadgets that weren't there. There was exactly one extra set of sheets for each bed and several sets of towels; we didn't need more linens. There wasn't a moment where we thought, "Oh, it would be nice to have XYZ." You may be storing more than you actually use.

Here’s a peek into where we stayed:

2.     Your kids are more capable and adventurous than you think. Barcelona is a relatively safe city, and chldren are expected to be out on their own. Young children walk themselves to school, ask for help from others when needed, and ride the metro independently. After a few rides on the subway as a family and a thorough explanation of how the metro map + cards worked, our kiddos were off on their own. My oldest made friends through her program from other countries. After class they'd have coffee, explore the city, go shopping, and be teenagers in the city. My middle got himself to and from training (about 20 min via metro away) on time every weekday. They learned that Apple Maps was their friend for all modes of transport, including the schedule times. Give your kids a chance to roam + explore and they may surprise you.

3.     You need more time for socialization than you think. Productivity culture in the US has us "always working." Covid-19 kept us inside and apart from our loved ones, and in some cases, these relationships haven’t fully rebounded. In Spain, people took walks midday with their families, they met friends for coffee + beer, they chatted with seniors in the park. The belief was that breaks were necessary for productivity. Life is meant to be enjoyed rather than be a series of events that you always have to attend. Children were welcome at events "for adults." Elders were encouraged to stay moving and interact with the younger generations. Family was blended between time for productivity. Find one additional opportunity for deep connection throughout your week.

I share not because I expect the culture in the US to change. I share to invite you to take one nugget away and apply it to your life. Summer is ending here shortly, but that doesn't mean we all have to go back to work, high stress sports' schedules, and mandated birthday parties.

You're in charge of your life + home. Make the incremental changes you see fit. No explanation needed.

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