We Loved New York. We Still Left. Here’s Why.

I spent over a decade building my adult life in New York City. We weren’t failing. We weren’t financially struggling. And we didn’t leave because something went “wrong.” After becoming parents, however, the reality of raising children in New York started to feel very different than the story we were told. Safety, healthcare costs, maternity leave, housing, and the constant pressure of corporate America all hit differently once kids were involved. This video is a personal reflection on why we ultimately chose to leave New York and move abroad, even though we loved the city and were “doing fine” by most standards. I talk openly about: – raising kids in New York City – gun violence and safety concerns – healthcare and postpartum costs in the U.S. – maternity leave and productivity expectations – housing costs in NYC – why being able to pay for everything doesn’t mean it’s normal – and the question many women never let themselves ask: do I have to stay? This isn’t about telling anyone what they should do. It’s about questioning defaults, especially as mothers, and allowing ourselves to imagine a different way of living before burnout or crisis forces the decision. #leavingtheUS #raisingkidsinNYC #motherhoodinAmerica #movingabroad #fromNYtoNairobi