I was the distracted mom that I never wanted to be; Moving to Qatar helped

“Mom, are you going to arrive at my school game?” Asked my daughter, her little voice. I could say that she was ready for disappointment.

I looked up with my laptop, where customers’ emails asked for immediate answers, and I felt this familiar knot in my stomach. “I’m going to try, darling. I will really do it.”

We both knew what “I will try”.

Having grown up in a single -parent household, I watched my mother fight to balance work and family, lacking important moments in my childhood. I swore that I would rush my two daughters differently.

However, despite being married and the founder of an operations agency called the PDG partner which allows me to work remotely, I repeated the same model as my mother.

Something necessary to change. Surprisingly, I found that something in Qatar.

I was surprised by how much we like to live in Qatar

I was born and I grew up in the United States. My expatriate trip began in London in 2015, continued in Copenhagen in 2016, returned to London in 2020 and finally to Qatar in 2024.

We moved because my husband received jobs above. The truth is that I was not initially delighted to move to Qatar.

I was afraid to disrupt my business, to uproot our life established in London and to interrupt the education of my daughters.

Initially, our plan was temporary – four years in Qatar, at most, then back in England before the girls reach the school.

Now, barely months, these concerns have dissolved.

The excellent schools, the quality of life and the profound changes in our family dynamics have reconsidated everything to us.

Our financial situation improved after moving to Qatar

Each move has taught us something precious about different ways of living, but Qatar stands out to give us financial freedom and precious family time that we could not achieve elsewhere.

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My husband and I have good Educations, successful careers and are diligent savers, but we could not afford to invest in our future as we wanted, as buying a house in the United Kingdom.

Our situation is radically different in Qatar. My husband’s salary completely covers our family’s expenses, while my business income goes directly to savings and investments for our future.

The financial breathing room made all the difference in our family dynamic

I will never forget my first school event of my daughter in Qatar. I arrived 15 minutes earlier without my phone to get a row seat for the photos. She studied my hands and then my face with surprise. “Didn’t you check your messages?”

She had grown up accustomed to me to be physically present but mentally absent – half -election while scrolling through emails and taking calls during her activities. That she was surprised by my full presence broke my heart.

Now she expects me to put my phone and pay attention to her. This little change made a big difference in our daily life.

Our relationship has also flourished. We laugh more together, she shares more stories with me, and she is more willing to ask for help for homework or to talk about things that worry her.

Our confidence has become stronger simply because she knows that I listen to.

Qatar has given us parenthood much easier for us

Living here transformed me as a parent. I am more patient and present, and my daughters thrive.

Wherever we go – restaurants, parks, shopping centers – there is an integrated understanding that children are the responsibility of the community.

My youngest, formerly hesitating to join group activities, is now present with new children in the park. My oldest has developed remarkable independence, easily sailing on social situations.

My husband is also enjoying more time with children. For example, when our daughter had her first football tournament – an hour’s drive for a working day – he simply told his boss that he had to leave at noon. “Of course,” was the answer. No guilt or subtle waiting to make up for time.

I also find myself working for fewer hours without sacrificing my business or my quality of work. For example, I closed my laptop at 11 a.m. on Tuesday for a spontaneous beach trip – something that I would have ever done before without feeling guilty.

I also stopped feeling guilty when my children have an unexpected time. Back home, I would worry if they were not in enrichment or sports lessons organized every afternoon. Now I see the value of letting them build forts in the living room or spending an hour drawing.

Our family got closer in a tangible way. We eat meals together without devices, start adventures on weekends without work interruptions and have conversations that are not precipitated by the next commitment.

Sonaya Williams lived with her family in the United Kingdom, Denmark and Qatar. Through Your expatriate lifeIt helps very efficient women to create a significant life abroad, wondering what they have been told is “normal” and discover what is really possible.