Three years. Three countries. One family navigating constant change.

From Mexico 🇲🇽 to Indonesia 🇮🇩 and now to Spain 🇪🇸—our journey has been anything but smooth. Each move came with its own reasons, its own stress, and its own lessons. While it’s been challenging, it’s also been deeply transformative. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way—and why I wouldn’t trade the chaos for anything.

1. Hold Onto What Matters Most

Every family has its own values. Ours? Safety and health.

When we decided to leave Mexico, it was because of my job. I often worked on-site in areas that weren’t always safe, and we realized it was time to prioritize our well-being. We moved to Indonesia and thought we were doing the right thing.

But in the months that followed, the stress of my demanding job took a toll on our family. Our daughter was hospitalized three times in six months. That was the wake-up call. After long talks with my husband, I took a break from my career, and he accepted a job opportunity in Spain. We craved peace—and the Mediterranean seemed to promise it. Looking back now, I’m so glad we made that leap.

2. Ask for Help (Like, Really Ask)

When we moved to Indonesia, we stretched our budget thin. As engineers, my husband and I were good with numbers—but we didn’t know how to budget with purpose.

We reached out to a financial consultant, who helped us define clear savings goals and break them down into achievable monthly targets. It was a game-changer. By the time we planned our move to Spain, we were financially prepared—and way less stressed.

3. Information is Power

I made a huge mistake when we moved to Indonesia: I declined help with paperwork because I thought I had it under control.

I was wrong.

Turns out, my husband needed a different visa to convert into a long-term stay permit. So, two months after landing, we had to fly to Malaysia and re-enter Indonesia with the proper visa. Lesson learned. For our Spain move, I double- and triple-checked everything.

4. Expect the Unexpected

We thought we had it all planned for Spain. We even saved up for the 2-month deposit needed to rent an apartment.

But we didn’t anticipate the Barcelona rental crisis in late 2024. My husband couldn’t qualify for long-term rental due to a policy requiring 1 year of employment in the country. With time running out, we found a place 1.5 hours from Barcelona—and surprisingly, it’s been a blessing. We’re now close to the beach and enjoying a slower pace of life.

5. My Daughter Will Be Okay

I used to worry constantly about how all this moving would affect our daughter. When we arrived in Indonesia, she struggled—became a picky eater, lost weight. It broke my heart.

So before moving to Spain, we consulted a family psychologist. We learned that kids absorb our energy. The calmer we were, the better she would adapt.

And she did. We even enrolled her in school earlier than expected—and she blossomed. It took her two months to open up, but we never pressured her. We simply reminded her that we’re always here for her.

6. Let Go of Control

I’ll be honest—I’m still working on this one.

I was raised to push, plan, and hustle. But in Spain, things move differently. Bureaucracy takes time. People don’t rush. At first, it drove me crazy. But slowly, I’m learning to release control and live in the moment. Que será, será.

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Our life is far from perfect. It’s often messy, unpredictable, and exhausting. But it’s also full of growth, laughter, and deep lessons. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not about having everything under control—it’s about finding tools and rhythms that support the life we actually live.

That’s exactly why I created the Balanced Hive Planner and Monthly Budget Tracker—not to chase perfection, but to give space for flexibility, priorities, and real-life goals. These tools helped me plan meals without guilt, track our finances with intention, and keep sight of what truly matters, even in the chaos of international moves and motherhood.

If you’re in a season of change or just craving a bit more calm in your everyday life, I hope these resources can serve as your helping hands too.