We put our kids in camp in Europe. Here’s what it’s really like.

The rhythm, the real talk, and how you can make it happen.

We put our kids in summer camp in Europe.

Last year was our first time. This is our second summer doing it, and at this point, we’re pretty sure this is just what we do now. It sounds wild until you actually do it. And then it starts to feel surprisingly doable.

We’re two weeks into our stay in Nice, France. It’s gone fast, but also, it feels like we’ve lived an entire season already. The first half of week one was fun in that not-sustainable kind of way. My best friend from high school happened to be here, so we took a few days of real vacation from work, tagged along with her adventures including a beach club in Cannes where we danced the afternoon away, and we crossed off a ton of our bucket list towns to explore early.

Now we’ve shifted into what I call our “summer rhythm.” And like last year, I’m reminded: this lifestyle is both dreamy and demanding. It's not vacation. It’s not “taking the summer off.” It’s living and working full days in a new place.

But it’s also magic. It’s slow mornings, just me and my husband. It’s swimming in turquoise water with my kids on the weekends. It’s real dinners that last two hours. It’s building a life in a new place that feels more familiar than foreign.

We don’t follow a rigid schedule, and certainly don’t plan out our days like we would a typical vacation to Europe, but we do have a structure that supports us.

• We take the kids together as a family to school every morning.

• Three mornings a week are for workouts and slow brunch.

• Two mornings are for exploring—day trips, beach hangs, village wandering.

• Work starts between 1–2 p.m., breaks for dinner around 8 p.m., and then we usually log back on for 1 to 2 hours.

• Weekends are fully for the kids.

Having our au pair with us is a huge help. But I want to be clear: this type of travel is possible without an au pair. There are options. I share what other families do in this post.

What’s Made the Biggest Difference..

1. Community. We planned this with families we met last summer in Portugal who are now part of our extended summer crew. Our kids go to camp together, ask to hang on weekends, and genuinely feel like they have their routine here. That energy is contagious. It turns the trip from traveling into living.

2. A dedicated work space. We joined a gym that doubles as a coworking space. It's beautiful and open late, which matters more than you'd think when your calls run until 8pm.

3. The kids, thriving. Every morning, they lean over the terrace yelling “bonjour” to strangers. They’re learning how to be flexible, how to try new things, how to make friends in new places. That alone makes this entire thing worth it.

The only way this works is by treating it like what it is: a short-term relocation. You’re still working, just from a better backdrop. Once you make the mental shift , everything gets easier. It’s no longer “how do I balance work and fun?” It’s: “How do I live fully and get my job done?”

You’ll be tired. But you’ll also be living in a way that feels aligned. And that’s not something I take for granted.

We’re already talking about Summer 2026. I’m considering sharing our plans earlier, probably in September, to see if others from this community might want to join in.

Because honestly, community makes or breaks this experience.

If you’re even a little curious, drop a comment below and let me know. I’d love to build a small list of people to reach out to as we start locking things in. It could be really fun to do this together.

Let me know…would you want in for next summer?

Currently

LOVING A.Emery Sandals I can’t get over how comfortable these are. I’ve been wearing them almost daily here in Nice

USING Extra Large Beach Bag obsessed with this bag. It fits SO much stuff

EATING some favorite meals have included Bocca Nisa, Hotel Amour, and Illia Pasta

RECOMMENDING Foldable scooter ideal for any type of travel - and yes it fits in the overhead bin (this one is for ages 2 to 5)

SHARING Air France Business Review my take on Air France Business with kids. Would love to hear your opinion!

All The Things

This week I’m sharing all the MVP items from our first two weeks here in Nice. Shop the full edit here.

• Native Shoes for the kids, great for rocky beaches and camp days

• Linen Shorts and a linen tank top could wear linen every day of summer

• Kids Life Vest for my 5 year old who has outgrown his puddle jumper

• Our favorite kid's sunscreen I brought enough to get us started from home

• Water resistant pouch we put our keys, wallets, electronics in here at the beach, the bright yellow means we can always find it in our giant beach bag

• Freezeable Kids Lunch Box these help keep the kids camp lunches fresh (great advanced buy ahead of back-to-school)

• Turkish Beach Towels they’re small and dry quick, we bring these from home

• Water-Proof name labels we’re using these for camp, but they’re also great for back-to-school

• Brooks Glycerin Running Shoe Jason has loved these for all of the walking we’re doing

New Modern Mom Podcast Spotlight

Curious how we’re making Europe work this summer? Check out this episode!

TLDR, here’s what’s inside this quick-hit episode:

🌍 Plan for school, childcare, housing, coworking, and community to ensure a smooth family life abroad.

💼 Adjust your schedule to manage U.S. work hours and still make time for your family while abroad.

💰 Know the real costs for flights, housing, camps, and coworking, and discover ways to save.

🧠 Overcome common blockers and get your partner, boss, and yourself on board to make it happen.

🔍 Understand the pros and cons of programs like Boundless Life versus planning everything yourself. Get €400 off your program with Boundless Life with code NEWMODERNMOM.

💬 Drop a comment if you’d like to join me next summer!

And I’d be so appreciative if you could:

• ❤️ Give this a little love if you love the idea of spending your summer in Europe

• 📤 Hit ‘Share’ and send this to your partner (encourage them to start planning your next big trip!)

Thanks for joining me on this journey,

Barbara