ByLou.Inspiration

ByLou.Inspiration Sharing my experience as a working expat mom in the USA. With blogs, favorites and products.

Three weeks of Europe, family, sunshine, long dinners, familiar places and so much time together. 🤍One of my favorite pa...
08/09/2026

Three weeks of Europe, family, sunshine, long dinners, familiar places and so much time together. 🤍

One of my favorite parts of coming back is watching our kids reconnect with family. Seeing them pick up relationships as if no time has passed makes my heart so full. And at the same time, it makes leaving again that little bit harder.

Going back “home” is always bittersweet. I’m honestly SO ready for some routine, sleeping in our own beds and not living out of suitcases 😂 But I’m also reminded that home isn’t just the place we live.

Home is the people who surround us. The grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends — the people who know us, who love our kids, and who are part of their story.

And knowing that the kids will have changed again by the time we see everyone next… that makes every goodbye feel a little heavier.

So we’re heading back with full hearts, tired kids, way too much luggage and a whole lot of memories. ✈️🤍

Until next time, Europe. We’ll miss you — and especially the people who make you feel like home.

07/26/2026

When Emma turned 19 months, I caught myself wondering why she wasn’t saying as many words as some other toddlers.

As parents, it’s so easy to compare. 🤍

Then I learned that bilingual children often build their vocabulary across two languages. They may know a word in Dutch but not in English (or the other way around), and their language journey can look a little different.

That doesn’t mean every bilingual child develops the same way, and if you ever have concerns about your child’s speech or development, it’s always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician.

For us, this was a reminder to trust the process. We’ll keep reading books, singing songs, talking, laughing, and making memories in both Dutch 🇳🇱 and English 🇺🇸.

Watching her grow into two languages is one of my favorite parts of raising our family abroad. ❤️

Are you raising bilingual kids too? I’d love to hear about your experience!

Out of Office 🌴 (finally!)After traveling from the US to the Netherlands and now Portugal, it finally feels like we’ve a...
07/22/2026

Out of Office 🌴 (finally!)

After traveling from the US to the Netherlands and now Portugal, it finally feels like we’ve arrived.

Funny how “going home” as an expat rarely feels like a holiday.

You try to see everyone.
You drag half your life across continents.
You fit in appointments, paperwork, and errands.
Sometimes you’re still working.
And somehow you also expect yourself to relax.

Add a sick toddler, jet lag, and sleeping in different places… and I found myself forgetting everything, feeling overwhelmed, and honestly wanting to go to bed at the same time as my kids. 😅

Today, for the first time in days, I feel like I can finally slow down.

So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. ☀️

This is our life too—not just the exciting adventures, but also the chaos behind every trip home.

Is this relatable? Do you also come back from visiting “home” and feeling like you need another vacation?

👇 I’d love to hear your experience.

07/14/2026

10 things I wish someone had told us before moving to the USA 🇺🇸

After living here for 2.5 years, we’ve learned a lot—some lessons the hard way.

If you’re planning an international move (or just curious what life in America is really like), this one’s for you.

✨ Read the full blog via the link in my bio.

💬 Which one surprised you the most?

As America celebrates its 250th birthday today, we realized we’ve been lucky enough to call it home for about 2.5 years,...
07/05/2026

As America celebrates its 250th birthday today, we realized we’ve been lucky enough to call it home for about 2.5 years, just 1/100 of this country’s history, yet a chapter that has already given us so much.

We’ve had the opportunity to explore so much of this beautiful country, and we can’t wait to discover even more. Along the way, we’ve embraced the kindness, the optimism, and the way Americans celebrate both the big and the little moments in life. As down-to-earth Dutch people, that’s something we’ll gladly take with us.

A festive parade, swimming, a BBQ, and celebrating with friends, just the way the Fourth of July should be.

Happy 250th, America! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

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