Parenting is a journey that takes us to different corners of the world. In this case, we follow Kelly Green as she moved to Tristan Da Cunha, a remote island with only 236 inhabitants, and embarked on the adventure of raising her kids there.

Discover the Peace and Love of Raising Kids on a Remote Island

Initial Wanderings and Family Background

Kelly Green, a 34-year-old, had a life filled with constant moving as her diplomat father's postings took the family to various countries like Antigua, Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Kenya. In 2010, while working as a flight attendant in England, she received news of her father's new posting at the Edinburgh of the Seven Seas. Little did she know that this would lead her to one of the most isolated settlements in the world.To reach Tristan Da Cunha, one had to fly to Cape Town and then embark on a long journey across the South Atlantic Ocean, taking 7 to 10 days and covering over 1,700 miles. There were only around 10 scheduled trips a year, operated by three different ships.

Falling in Love and Moving In

In 2012, Kelly took a six-week holiday to visit her family. There, she met Shane, a man who would become an important part of her life. After leaving the island, they continued to talk on the phone every night. Two years later, she knew it was time to move in together and in late 2013, she packed her belongings and made the move. Shane built them a two-bedroom house with an outhouse, and their family began.

The Island Life and Its Challenges

Tristan Da Cunha has a simple yet self-sufficient community with only one school, a post office, a tourism center, a hospital, a bank, a café, and a pub. There are no restaurants, and everyone knows each other. Kelly loves the freedom of walking 3 to 4 miles every afternoon without bumping into anyone. It's a peaceful and quiet life compared to her previous life in England where she had a long commute and worked 16-hour shifts.However, there are some aspects she misses about England. Imported goods are more expensive, with a markup of around 75% for South African goods and 95% for UK goods. For example, a fridge that cost around $650 in the UK had to be purchased for $1,100 due to freight.

Raising Kids on the Island

Kelly has a 10-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. She feels safe raising them on the island as there is always someone looking out for them. She doesn't have to worry about her kids walking alone like she would in England. In the future, she plans to encourage her kids to study abroad and experience life in other countries, just like she has done.The island's main source of income is lobster export, and the community grows their own produce and rear various animals. It's a unique lifestyle that Kelly and her family have embraced.