Taking maternity leave abroad

A well-traveled neighbor once quipped “if I’m going to be tired, I might as well be tired with fresh croissants and baguettes” as they jetted off to Paris after welcoming their little one.

Inspired, our little family spent 6 weeks of our family leave abroad, living in the same Tuscan countryside home (Panzano) for five weeks, then wrapping up the adventure with a week on the riviera (Santa Margherita Ligure). A weekend trip to Modena and Maranello, a day trip to watch the Giro d’Italia race by, and many day trips into Florence. Staying in one place, we didn’t feel rushed to “see” all the things, and instead felt such joy in the lived experience - when we would walk to the cafe for our morning cappuccino and they’d gladly bring out fresh gelato for my 3 year old. Or when the guys at the town salumeria would share fresh slices of melt-in-your-mouth prosciutto and sit outside on the curb with him.

This is the trick. Pick a place, unpack, and enjoy an adventure or two a day. Don’t try to galavant all over 9 European cities just because you can. After all, this is the time to slow down and bond - with your new baby, with your new family, and with a community you seek to be inspired by. ✨