I had become the distracted, workaholic mom I never wanted to be. Moving to Qatar helped me be a more present parent and now my daughters are thriving.

"Mom, are you going to make it to my school play?" my daughter asked, her voice small. I could tell that she was prepared for disappointment.

I looked up from my laptop, where client emails demanded immediate responses, and felt that familiar knot in my stomach. "I'll try, sweetie. I really will."

We both knew what "I'll try" meant.

Growing up in a single-parent household, I watched my mother struggle to balance work and family, missing important moments in my childhood. I swore I'd raise my two daughters differently.

Yet, despite being married and the founder of an operations agency called The CEO Partner that allows me the flexibility to work remotely, I was repeating the same pattern as my mother.

Something needed to change. Surprisingly, I found that something in Qatar.

I was surprised by how much we love living in Qatar

I was born and raised in the US. My expat journey began in London in 2015, continued to Copenhagen in 2016, returned to London in 2020, and finally to Qatar in 2024.

We've moved around as my husband received higher-paying jobs. The truth is, I wasn't initially thrilled about moving to Qatar.

I worried about disrupting my business, uprooting our established life in London, and interrupting my daughters' education.

Initially, our plan was temporary — four years in Qatar, at most, then back to England before the girls reached high school.

Now, just months in, those concerns have dissolved.

The excellent schools, the quality of life, and the profound shifts in our family dynamics have us reconsidering everything.

Our financial situation improved after moving to Qatar

Each move taught us something valuable about different ways to live, but Qatar stands out for giving us financial freedom and precious family time we couldn't achieve elsewhere.

My husband and I have good educations, successful careers, and are diligent savers, but we couldn't afford to invest in our future the way we wanted to, like buying a home in the UK.

Our situation is dramatically different in Qatar. My husband's salary completely covers our family's expenses, while the income from my business goes directly into savings and investments for our future.

The financial breathing room has made all the difference in our family dynamic

I'll never forget my daughter's first school event in Qatar. I arrived 15 minutes early without my phone to get a front-row seat for photos. She studied my hands and then my face with surprise. "You're not checking your messages?"

She'd grown up accustomed to me being physically present but mentally absent — half-listening while scrolling emails and taking calls during her activities. That she was surprised by my full presence broke my heart.

Now, she expects me to put my phone away and pay attention to her. This small change has made a big difference in our daily lives.

Our relationship has blossomed, too. We laugh more together, she shares more stories with me, and she's more willing to ask for help with homework or talk about things that worry her.

Our trust has grown stronger simply because she knows I'm listening.

Qatar has made parenting significantly easier for us

Living here has transformed me as a parent. I'm more patient and present, and my daughters are thriving.

Everywhere we go — restaurants, parks, shopping centers — there's a built-in understanding that children are the community's responsibility.

My youngest, once hesitant to join group activities, now confidently introduces herself to new children at the park. My oldest has developed remarkable independence, navigating social situations with ease.

My husband is also enjoying more time with the kids. For example, when our daughter had her first football tournament — an hour's drive away during a workday — he simply told his boss he needed to leave at noon. "Of course," was the response. No guilt or subtle expectation to make up the time.

I also find myself working fewer hours without sacrificing my business or work quality. For instance, I closed my laptop at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday for a spontaneous beach trip — something I'd never have done before without feeling guilty.

I've also stopped feeling guilty when my kids have unscheduled time. Back home, I'd worry if they weren't in enrichment classes or organized sports every afternoon. Now, I see the value in letting them build forts in the living room or spend an hour just drawing.

Our family has grown closer in tangible ways. We eat meals together without devices, go on weekend adventures without work interruptions, and have conversations that aren't rushed by the next commitment.

Sonaya Williams has lived with her family in the UK, Denmark, and Qatar. Through Your Expat Life, she helps high-achieving women create meaningful lives abroad by questioning what they've been told is "normal" and discovering what's truly possible.