I have spent years watching the glossy feed of the digital nomad lifestyle take over social media. It usually features a laptop on a beach and a coconut within arm’s reach. But lately I have noticed a different reality emerging from the families who sold everything to travel the world. The caption might say paradise but the reality often involves meltdowns and severe loneliness. A recent survey by the online bank Bunq found that nearly forty percent of nomads struggled with their mental health.
The story of Josy and Joe Davis is a perfect example of how quickly the dream can unravel. They left their stable lives in Gloucestershire to take their two young daughters on a global adventure. They visited seven countries and took fourteen flights in just five months. It sounds like the trip of a lifetime on paper. Yet they found themselves back in Cornwall much sooner than planned because their children were simply not thriving. Josy admitted that the experience was overwhelming and far from the curated perfection seen online.
I found their honesty refreshing in a space that usually demands toxic positivity. The constant movement took a toll on their daughters who missed the stability of a classroom and regular friends. Josy noted that while the trip gave them confidence it also brought anxiety that vanished once they settled down again. She now advises other parents to listen to their children above all else. It is a stark reminder that what works for adults does not always work for a six-year-old who just wants a best friend.
Another family I learned about discovered that the pace of travel is often the culprit. Melissa Wiringi and her family spent eighteen months in a small Vietnamese village due to the pandemic. She realized that trying to maintain a fast pace is a recipe for disaster when you have kids in tow. She believes that slow travel is the only way to make it sustainable. Without that forced pause they might have burned out completely and returned home with nothing but regrets.
The educational aspect is another major hurdle that is often glossed over. Many parents assume the world will be a sufficient teacher for their offspring. While informal learning has value it cannot always replace the social structure of a school. Researchers have found that adults who grew up this way are split down the middle on whether it was a gift or a curse. Half say it was the best thing that happened to them while the other half describe it as awful.
It seems the tide is turning on the blind glorification of this lifestyle. Parents are realizing that you cannot just drag children across time zones without consequences. Stability and community are basic human needs that a camper van cannot always provide. We need to stop pretending that a passport stamp is a substitute for a childhood.
I am curious to hear if you would ever consider this lifestyle for your own family or if you think the risks are too high so please tell me your thoughts in the comments.
