For parents raising kids far from home — and finding themselves in the process.
Be the first to receive early excerpts, behind-the-scenes reflections, and launch updates.
If you're raising kids far from home, Parenting Unpacked is the companion you didn't know you needed.
It's not a checklist.
It's not a survival guide.
It's an emotional map, drawn from real stories of parents navigating identity, loss, love, and resilience across borders.
This book carries more than stories of parenting abroad — it holds the quiet truths we rarely speak, the ones that live between belonging and rupture, in the invisible work of rebuilding ourselves while raising others.
"Sometimes the bravest thing a parent abroad can do is admit they're not fine — and still keep going."
Written by an expat mother who's lived the chaos of diaper aisles in unfamiliar supermarkets and the ache of parenting in a language that isn't yours, Parenting Unpacked is part confessional, part connection — for every parent trying to make home wherever their children grow.
I wrote Parenting Unpacked for the parents living between worlds—the ones holding it together through jet lag, language gaps, and the quiet question of who they're becoming.
It's not a relocation guide; it's a reflection on the invisible labor, identity shifts, and small emotional repairs that shape families abroad.
Whether you're preparing to move, already unpacking, or still finding your footing years later, this book is meant to feel like recognition—a late-night conversation that reminds you you're not alone, and that belonging can be rebuilt anywhere.
Jessica Gabrielzyk
Author
Writer, Researcher, Mother — Building Belonging Across Continents
Global Journey
Jessica Gabrielzyk is a writer, researcher, and mother who has spent the last decade building a life—and a library—across continents. Born in Brazil, she has lived in Australia, Portugal, Ireland, and now Switzerland, where she writes about the beauty and bewilderment of raising a family far from home.
Her first book, Maternity Abroad: Becoming a Mother in a Foreign Land, has reached readers in more than fifteen countries and established her as a fresh, empathetic voice on global motherhood. A member of SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research), Jessica blends storytelling with research, psychology, and cultural insight to illuminate what relocation manuals leave out—the invisible labor, shifting identities, and quiet acts of resilience that shape families abroad.
When she's not writing, you'll find her chasing her daughter through Swiss playgrounds, testing local bakeries for "research," or finding metaphors in the grocery aisle.
Parenting Unpacked is her love letter to every parent who's ever wondered if they made the right move—and discovered that belonging isn't found. It's built.
Parenting abroad is hard. You don't have to do it alone.
Exclusive excerpts and first chapters before anyone else
Behind-the-scenes thoughts from Jessica on parenting abroad
Invitations to author chats and community discussions
Follow the book's journey from manuscript to launch
Voices from parents around the world who've connected with the book
"I really enjoy this—I think it will really connect with parents at any stage of their move abroad. It definitely will make the reader feel less alone, more supported."
Bree
USA
"There's no doubt that parenting is one of the most difficult—and at the same time most rewarding—jobs one can have, and adding the extra challenge of living abroad might feel lonely or even scarier sometimes. That's why books like yours are so important. They provide a sense of community and partnership among readers, and we're sure it will make the lives of many parents easier."
Ana & Josie
USA
"Congratulations! Necessary content, especially when delivered with heart."
Valéria Macedo
Writer
Ready to be part of this journey?
Join the WaitlistEverything you need to know about Parenting Unpacked
Parenting Unpacked is a book about the emotional ride of raising a family across borders—from the quiet fears before the move to the slow work of anchoring (or returning) after it.
It captures what doesn't make it into relocation guides: the invisible labor, the identity shifts, the small ruptures and quiet repairs that shape parents and children alike.
Not a manual, but a reflection on how families rebuild a sense of home—one invisible choice at a time.
This book is for anyone raising children between cultures—before, during, or long after a move.
It speaks especially to mothers carrying the emotional weight of adaptation, but also to fathers, partners, educators, and anyone asking what it means to build home when you've left your own behind.
Both—but not the checklist kind.
Each chapter blends real stories from parents around the world with insights from psychologists, educators, and cross-cultural experts. It's the kind of book you underline, reread, and pass to a friend when they admit, "No one talks about this part."
Most books focus on how to move. Parenting Unpacked focuses on what moves inside you.
It weaves the raw honesty of memoir with psychological depth, written in a voice that feels more like a late-night conversation than a guide. This isn't about planning your transition—it's about living it.
Absolutely.
Parenting Unpacked gives language to the in-between—the cultural grief, layered identities, and quiet negotiations that come with raising kids who belong to more than one place.
It's about staying grounded and connected inside it—together.
The book is currently in development. Join our waitlist to be the first to know about the official release date, early excerpts, and behind-the-scenes updates from the author.
Format details will be announced closer to publication. Subscribers to our waitlist will be the first to receive all format availability and pre-order information.
Yes! When you join our waitlist, you'll become part of a growing community of parents raising kids across borders. Waitlist members will receive invitations to live Q&As, community discussions, and opportunities to connect with others who understand the journey.
No spam. Just stories, truth, and connection.