Struggles of a Nomadic Mom

Struggles of a Nomadic Mom 

 In the spring of 2024, I reached a pivotal moment in my life—a moment that would shape not only my future but the future of my two daughters, Lordess and my eldest, who was preparing to go to nursing school in California. After years of hardship, emotional exhaustion, and financial struggle, I decided it was time to make a change. Living in the U.S. as a widowed mother was no longer something I could sustain, both emotionally and financially. My path forward would take me far from the confines of American life and into a new chapter that was equal parts adventure and uncertainty: a move to Thailand.

But before I dive into where I’m headed, it’s important to reflect on the events that brought me here. In March 2022, when my youngest daughter, Lordess, was just two years old, I left my work-from-home job as a Google Ads optimization specialist. The company I worked for had issued a return-to-office mandate, which was impossible for me. My husband traveled often for work, and juggling the demands of a toddler and a rigid office schedule left me no choice but to resign. It was a tough decision, but I still had hope.

That hope was shattered a few months later, in September 2022, when my husband tragically passed away. Suddenly, I was thrust into a reality I wasn’t prepared for—an unemployed single mother with two daughters, a dwindling savings account, $3,000 in monthly bills, and only 30 days left on our lease. I had to act fast, but I didn’t know how. In my desperate search for a solution, I decided to take the plunge and move to Mexico to regroup and plan our next steps. 

Mexico, with its promise of a lower cost of living, seemed like the perfect place to regain control of our lives. We started in Playa del Carmen and eventually settled in Merida. But my plans took another hit when the remote job offer I had secured before the move was rescinded. I found myself in Mexico, a foreign country with no job, no income, and no ability to legally work. I had hoped the lower cost of living would stretch my savings, but the reality was harsh. Mexico had become increasingly expensive due to inflation and what many refer to as the “gringo tax”—a higher cost of living for foreigners. The quality of life I expected wasn’t there, and I was only saving about $500 a month, which wasn’t sustainable without an income. 

After three months of struggling in Mexico, I realized it wasn’t the right place for me and my girls. In early 2023, we returned to the U.S., hoping for better opportunities. But what we returned to was far from the life I had envisioned. I took on gig jobs to keep us afloat while continuing to apply for work-from-home positions. It wasn’t until November 2023 that I finally received a job offer, but the position wouldn’t start until January 2024. It was another long waiting game, and by the time I started the job, I was emotionally drained. The last two years had been nothing but survival—scraping by just to keep a roof over our heads, with no car and no sense of financial freedom.

Even after I began my new job, it felt like I was still barely treading water. I was spending over $2,500 a month just to cover our basic needs, and I didn’t even have a car to get around. Most days, I didn’t leave the house. Entertainment consisted of a trip to the pool or an occasional shopping spree at Ross. I had become a depressed hermit, isolated and weighed down by the monotony of bills, work, and barely living. I wasn’t thriving; I was merely surviving.

Something had to give. As 2024 rolled on, I realized that living in America as a widowed mother was not sustainable for me—financially or emotionally. I needed a drastic change, not just for myself, but for my daughters. I had spent my entire career learning valuable skills in digital marketing, especially with Google Ads and other tools Google offers to businesses. It was time to put those skills to use for myself, instead of endlessly searching for jobs that paid too little and demanded too much. 

By the spring of 2024, a plan began to form. My eldest daughter, now 18, had been accepted into a nursing program in California. With her settled in school, I knew it was time to focus on what was best for me and Lordess. I spent months researching, soul-searching, and preparing for our next move. After considering several options, Thailand stood out. Thailand offered the financial relief I desperately needed, with a lower cost of living that would allow me to breathe, to think, and most importantly, to create. I also saw Thailand as the perfect place to finally launch my own marketing agency—a dream I had been nurturing since my time working with Google Ads. I knew I could leverage my skills and experience to help small businesses grow using all the tools Google offers, and Thailand seemed like the ideal place to do that while also giving my daughter and me the chance to live a more balanced, fulfilling life.

By the summer of 2024, everything started falling into place. My eldest daughter would be heading to nursing school in California, and I arranged for us to stay with a friend for two months to save money before the big move to Thailand. With a small amount of savings and a clear plan, I felt more optimistic than I had in years. 

Moving to Thailand in September 2024 was not just about escaping the financial pressures of America; it was about giving myself and my daughters a chance to start over. For the first time in a long time, I could see a path forward where we weren’t just surviving—we were thriving. I could finally focus on building something of my own, something that would give me the freedom to provide for my family without the relentless grind of gig jobs and barely making ends meet.

This move was more than a physical relocation—it was a transformation. I wasn’t running away from my problems; I was stepping into a new chapter where I had the control and the vision to build a better life for us. Thailand was our fresh start, and my marketing agency was the vehicle to get us there. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in years, I felt empowered, ready to take on whatever challenges came next.

As we prepared for our departure, I felt a sense of peace knowing that I had a plan, a vision, and the strength to see it through. Thailand, with its beauty, affordability, and opportunities, represented hope—a hope I hadn’t felt since before my husband passed. And with that hope came the belief that this time, things would be different. This time, we weren’t just surviving—we were about to live.