Emergency Contact

One of the most memorable moments I experienced when we left Brazil happened a few days after our arrival. I went to fill in the children’s form at the new school and realized that there was no one to put as an “emergency contact”. And to top it off, my husband is a pilot. At that moment I realized how lonely my journey as an expatriate mother would be.

Loneliness is a feeling that makes you feel a deep sense of emptiness and isolation. I could name many challenges that expat mothers face: culture shock, lack of a support network, the accumulation of duties… But loneliness is undoubtedly what accompanies us the most.

It wasn’t always an option to share this anguish with those who stayed in Brazil, and it was difficult for people to understand why I was so sad about the choice I had made. Only those who go through it know!

I spent many sleepless nights thinking: “What have I done with my life?”

“Scrolling the phone, looking at the ceiling. So I enrolled in psychology school. I decided to gather all the material I could to help expat mothers like us.

If you also feel this way, if you sometimes get a bit lost, if you feel like you don’t yet belong where you are, join me.

My daughter encouraged me to make an Instagram(@ivyfleming_). Our group started with four moms, now we’re a little bit more… 🙂

It will be a joy to have a virtual friend who is going through the same things and to be able to exchange information, share dreams and frustrations.