Yesterday, the United States celebrated its 250th birthday. As someone who grew up in Europe and chose to build a life here, I found myself thinking less about fireworks and more about what makes a country feel like home.
Over the past few days we crossed thousands of miles of America. We saw extraordinary beauty, little towns fighting to reinvent themselves, places thriving, others struggling, and countless acts of kindness from complete strangers. We also witnessed places that seemed frozen in time—or sadly left behind. The journey reminded me that there is still so much work to do to reduce inequalities, especially in rural communities. It also gave me ideas about how Unchained Mothering might one day help reach some of these often-overlooked places.
Then we came home to Miami.
The first thing I noticed wasn’t the skyline. It was the air.
Florida’s humidity—something I complain about half the year—suddenly felt almost rejuvenating. Somewhere around Kansas City I looked in the mirror and jokingly thought I had aged ten years. Within a day of being back home, I felt like myself again. Home has strange ways of restoring us.
This trip also reminded me how much life changes in seasons.
Because our families have always lived in different countries—and now, most of the time, on different continents—every visit has always been precious. When we were together, we wanted to enjoy every possible moment as a family. My in-laws were always happy to keep the children for a few days, but we usually chose two to four days at most because our time together was so limited. My parents, on the other hand, weren’t comfortable taking on the responsibility of the children for a longer period while they were young.
By 2020, we finally felt ready. Our oldest was fifteen and our youngest ten. Then the pandemic put those plans on hold. A few years later, the children finally spent a week with their grandparents. Last summer it became two weeks. This year, they are once again creating memories with family in Europe while my husband and I are here in the United States.
After nearly twenty years of parenting, having a little time on our own feels both unfamiliar and precious. Ironically, when you finally have that time, it’s tempting to fill every minute catching up on work, projects, and everything you’ve postponed. In the end, the long drive home gave us exactly what we probably needed most: permission to simply slow down.
This week also brought two moments that filled me with pride.
VoyageMIA published an interview about Unchained Mothering. Rather than speaking only about myself, I wanted it to reflect what the project has always been—a collective adventure made possible by mothers who shared their stories, volunteers, artists, partners, donors, interns, board members, friends, and family.
One of my favorite photos in the article is the cover image. It was taken during January’s Mango Strut Parade, where Lillyster our eldest walked with her friends carrying the Unchained Mothering banner before returning for her second semester of college. Seeing her support something that has meant so much to me touched me deeply. The VoyageMIA cover photo is especially meaningful to me because it captures my parents, my husband, and two of our three children—all standing together in support of Unchained Mothering and the values it represents.
At the same time, Jaimie has just completed her first internship, and Victor published his very first newspaper article in Le Courrier des Amériques.
As I looked at all three of them, I realized something.
The little children we once hesitated to leave for even a few days are becoming young adults finding their own paths.
Perhaps that’s what this season is teaching me.
Sometimes growth isn’t loud. It looks like grandparents making memories with grandchildren. A daughter carrying a banner. Another discovering the workplace. A son finding his voice in print. And two parents, after many years, rediscovering a little space to breathe.
Happy 250th birthday, America. Thank you for another unforgettable journey—and for reminding me that home is not only a place. It is also where we realize, sometimes quietly, that a new chapter has already begun.
Today’s reads:
VoyageMIA: An interview about Unchained Mothering and the many people who have helped bring it to life.
https://voyagemia.com/interview/inspiring-conversations-with-jessica-de-vreeze-of-unchained-mothering/
Le Courrier des Amériques: Victor’s very first published newspaper article—one proud mom moment! ❤️
https://courrierdesameriques.com/2026/06/23/le-courrier-des-ameriques-de-juillet-2026-est-sorti/
so parislux ! 
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