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How I Took a Working Parent Sabbatical
How one couple decided to do whatever it took to spend the most amount of time possible with their three young children — including moving to Uruguay.
Sean Blanda
November 06, 2024
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How I Took a Working Parent Sabbatical
In her 20s, environmental sociologist Ashley Colby spent some time nannying for a wealthy Chicago family. The parents were successful by traditional measures, but they rarely saw their children.
The experience was one that galvanized Ashley.
She and her husband then planned what can only be described as a “working parent sabbatical” to ensure they would be both fully present for the young lives of their future children.
Three kids later, the family moved to Uruguay and built a house on land they had purchased years earlier. There, the low cost of living allowed both Ashley and her husband to parent nearly full-time until all of their children were older than four.
They’ve recently returned to the States, so we reflected on her family’s sabbatical and explored the often impossible balance between careerism and family.
We cover…
…why she moved her entire family to Uruguay for years and how she planned such a bold move.
…what it looks like to live your life intentionally.
…how accepting Americans have become of not seeing their kids.
…the right time to take a sabbatical with your kids.
…why young parents should deprioritize work.
You’ll enjoy Ashley’s story if you…
…don’t have kids yet, but want to ensure you can still travel and be adventurous as a parent.
…don’t identify with the “busy working parent” archetype.
…would like to find a way to spend more time with your family.
…are considering homeschooling.
Example #4519 of “Living Your Life in Seasons”
When I discussed quitting Google to do a Phd, my manager, Steve Cheng, gave me the advice of "6 shots": Doing something meaningful usually takes about 5 years and we are productive for roughly 30 years. That gives you 6 attempts. So pick each one carefully and give it your best.
— Jakob Foerster (@j_foerst)
2:35 PM • Oct 9, 2024