Building Your Family Support Team Abroad
A Guide to Finding Freedom, Connection, and Support as an International Parent
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Moving abroad with your family is an extraordinary adventure - but it can also be an overwhelming one. As an international parent, you're not just adjusting to a new country; you're balancing family life, personal goals, and cultural shifts all at once. The good news? You don't have to do it all alone. Building a thoughtful, trusted support team is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and your family. This guide is here to show you how.
Understanding What You Need
The first step in building your support system is understanding where you need help most. Parenting abroad brings unique challenges: loss of family support, new cultural expectations, and often a heavier mental load. Take a moment to reflect:
- Where do you feel most stretched or stressed?
- Which parts of your daily life would feel lighter with help?
- What kinds of support (emotional, practical, logistical) would make the biggest difference?
Recognizing these needs isn't a weakness - it's an act of strength and self-awareness.
Exploring Your Support Options
When building your village abroad, it's important to know the types of support available. Options might include:
- Babysitters for occasional help
- Daycare centers for structured, scheduled care
- Nannies for consistent, professional childcare
- Au pairs for integrated, cultural, and relational support
While all types of care have value, hosting an au pair can uniquely weave support into your family’s everyday life in a way that is flexible, enriching, and personally transformative.
Why an Au Pair Might Be the Ideal Fit
Unlike nannies or babysitters, au pairs become a living part of your family's daily rhythm. Through a cultural exchange program, au pairs help with childcare while experiencing a new country in a safe, welcoming environment.
Benefits of hosting an au pair include:
- Reliable, flexible support tailored to your schedule
- Enriched cultural experiences for your children
- Emotional support and new friendship for the whole family
Introducing nina.care
nina.care, founded by Jasmijn & Lyla Kok, is for families who have the option, of hiring an au pair. nina.care ensures a thoughtful, heart-centered approach to building this connection. nina.care offers:
- Carefully matched au pairs based on lifestyle and values
- Assistance with visas, contracts, and onboarding
- Access to Dutch courses, cultural events, and mediation support if needed
Their mission is about much more than placement; it’s about creating freedom, ease, and joy for international families.
To find out, what you need to be able to hire an au pair, click here.
Setting Up for Success
The key to a thriving relationship with any support person is clear communication and mutual respect. Some ways to lay a strong foundation:
- Create and review "House Rules" together in the first week
- Set clear schedules and responsibilities
- Honor cultural differences and encourage open dialogue
- Build opportunities for connection - small gestures like sharing meals or outings make a big difference
Remember: this is a living relationship. Check in regularly, stay flexible, and approach challenges with kindness.
Protecting the Magic (and Your Energy)
When you build the right support around your family, you create space to savor the magical moments of living abroad: the first time your child orders a croissant in Dutch, the new friendships formed at the park, the quiet confidence of feeling at home in a new place.
This is the true gift of a support team: not just to survive the journey, but to thrive within it.
You deserve a family life abroad that feels not just possible - but beautiful.
Your Village Awaits
Support is powerful, intentional, and essential. By investing in the right help, you invest in your well-being, your children's happiness, and your family's flourishing abroad.
Ready to find the perfect au pair to support your journey?
Visit nina.care to learn how they can help you build a thriving, joyful family life abroad. Listen here to hear Mickelle's episode with with co-founder Jasmijn Kok.
Your village is closer than you think.
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