The conversations I’m having in Season 2 of Black Expat Stories are next level, and Episode 2 comes by popular demand from this community.
So many of you have asked me questions like:
“What’s it like to parent abroad?”
“How do you raise kids in a different country?”
“Is it even possible to make a move like that with a family?”
And since I’m not a mom, this episode is my attempt to answer those questions by amplifying the voices of four incredible Black expat moms I personally know who are living it every day.
This episode features four Black expat moms who made life-altering decisions to leave the U.S. in search of something freer, softer, or simply more doable for themselves and their families.
I knew their perspectives deserved to be heard, which is why it’s a panel-style conversation. Because there’s more than one way to mother, I wanted to be intentional about offering diversity of thought and lived experience.
Each of these women brought something different to the conversation: different choices, different challenges, and different family structures. And yet, all of them are examples of what’s possible—no matter what stage of motherhood you’re in, or what it’s taken for you to get here.
The Stories Behind the Stories
Kissha moved to Mexico without her kids.
That might come as a shock at first to you. But I invite you to reserve whatever judgments that might up until after you watch the full episode, because there’s so much more to the story.
By becoming what she calls a “virtual mom” of three, Kissha broke the mold of what a “good mother” is supposed to look like.
And in this episode, you’ll see her share that it was far from easy. It came with a ton of pushback from friends, family, and people who couldn’t see beyond their own projections (as you could imagine).
But Kissha courageously demonstrates that sometimes, being a mother means putting the oxygen mask on yourself first. Because if momma’s not right—nobody is.
Her story is unconventional, yes. But it’s also deeply human.
And I’m so grateful she trusted me to help her tell it on Black Expat Stories.
Crystal moved her entire family to Mexico to raise her sons as free, young Black men.
Free from being policed. Free from the constant White gaze. Free to be soft and joyful and whole. She’s raising Black boys in a world that often refuses to let them be children—and made the courageous decision to remove that burden from them by moving abroad.
Crystal’s story is a reminder that sometimes love looks like leaving. I’m so grateful she lent her voice to this episode.
Candice raised her daughter—who lives with autism and cerebral palsy—across three countries.
They’ve lived in Italy, Turkey, and now Spain, where her daughter—now 20—advocated for their move after researching the country’s disability support.
And when she told me she wanted her daughter to live a soft Black girl life… I felt that deep.
Her presence in this episode illustrates that mothering abroad is about listening closely to the needs of your child and making space for a different kind of life to unfold.
Candice drops some gems in this episode about healing and our ancestral birthrights, so it’s definitely worth a watch for that alone. I’m deeply grateful to her for sharing her journey with us.
Rachel moved to Playa del Carmen with her husband and toddler in the thick of postpartum and pandemic burnout.
They didn’t have it all figured out, but they knew they needed something different.
Now, their 4 year old daughter is growing up bilingual, joyful, and surrounded by a supportive community.
Rachel’s story is for every parent who thinks they have to wait. For every mom who wonders if it’s too soon, too risky, or too much. Watching her show up for herself and her daughter has been a gift and I’m so glad she shared her story with us.
What We Get Into on the Show
What really pushes a mom to leave the U.S.—and how each woman knew it was time to go
The mental and emotional toll of mothering in a system not built for you—and what shifts when you finally put yourself first
What education, healthcare, and support look like abroad—especially when your child has special needs
The realities of long-distance parenting—and why one mom chose to become a “virtual mom” on purpose
How each woman rebuilt community, redefined safety, and created a new version of home beyond the borders of their birthplaces.
Why waiting for the “right time” might be costing your family more than you think
And what it looks like to raise free Black children—without fear being their first lesson
Watch Season 2 Episode 2: How These 4 Moms Left the U.S. to Build Better Lives For Their Families Abroad
Let’s Talk About It
Above all, these women demonstrate that not only is there not just one way to mother, there’s no perfect moment to make a move. But there are choices—and I’m inspired by how they each made theirs with courage, care, and conviction.
I’d love to hear from you:
Have you ever considered parenting abroad?
What would you need to feel supported in making that kind of move?
And what came up for you while watching this conversation?
Drop a comment and let me know. Let’s keep the dialogue going.
-Courtney
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