What does everyday life look like for an American mom raising kids in Norway? For Monica Virga Alborno, founder, podcast host, and mother of two, that question became an invitation to reflect on her 14-year journey abroad — from Kuwait to Angola, and now to the lush, rain-kissed landscapes of Bergen.

In this soulful episode of WandHERwild™, Monica opens up about what it’s like to raise a family in Norway — from Barnahaga (forest kindergarten) to public healthcare and government stipends, offering a deeply personal glimpse into intentional, expat motherhood.

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Whether you’re dreaming of moving abroad, rethinking how you raise your kids, or just craving a peek behind the curtain of Scandinavian family life, this episode reveals how motherhood can feel slower, fuller, and more supported.

A Life Led by Curiosity and Challenge

Monica didn’t move abroad because it was trendy. She left the U.S. in 2011, long before remote work and relocation blogs made expat life a cultural fascination. What began as a petroleum engineering career with an international company turned into a decade-plus of living across the globe.

“I like to refer to myself as a tamed version of Indiana Jones.”

Her career took her from the deserts of Kuwait to the jungles of Angola, from Siberia to Sub-Saharan Africa. Along the way, she met her husband (a fellow expat from Saudi Arabia), became a mother, and eventually landed in Norway in 2018, where she now lives with her family.

What started as a rotation quickly became a permanent lifestyle. “We thought we were going to keep moving,” Monica shares, “but it’s 2025 and we’re still here. We’re homeowners now. We’re integrating.”

What It’s Like to Work — and Parent — in Norway

The 8 to 4 culture is more than a schedule; it’s a philosophy. “They literally lock the office doors after 5 p.m.,” Monica laughs. “They want you to go home.”

Here, work-life balance isn’t aspirational, it’s enforced. Most parents pick up their children from Barnahaga around 3 p.m., and employers support this rhythm. Productivity hasn’t suffered; burnout is rare.

“People just seem to be a lot happier. They’re always rated one of the happiest countries on Earth.”

Monica notes the cultural difference from her American upbringing: “There’s a sense of presence here. A slowness. And I think the kids feel that.”

Raising Bilingual, Outdoorsy Kids in a Rainy City

Her children attend a Montessori-inspired forest school, where the curriculum is led by the child’s curiosity and most of the day is spent outside, regardless of weather.

In fact, Norwegian babies famously nap outdoors in their strollers, even in freezing temperatures.

“Every single day, my son naps outside in his stroller at Barnahaga.”

This nature-based, movement-driven approach prioritizes independence, resilience, and connection to the environment. “It’s kind of like a dream come true for me,” Monica shares, “and the kids are thriving.”

They also speak Norwegian fluently, even though Monica and her husband speak English at home. a testament to full immersion in the local system.

Public School, No Private Pressure, and Government Support

One of the most eye-opening parts of Monica’s experience is how affordable and accessible early childhood education and healthcare are in Norway.

Her family pays about $400–$450/month for two kids to attend full-day Barnahaga, which includes a warm lunch and a nearly 1:5 caregiver-to-child ratio.

Additionally, the government provides a monthly child stipend of around $350 to support families, something that offsets the cost of childcare or household expenses.

“When you think of the quality of care... it’s pretty amazing.”

Private schools are rare, standardized testing is minimal, and even university tuition is often free. While taxes are higher (up to 40%), Monica believes the value is worth it: “You don’t feel like you’re throwing that tax money away.”

A Different Kind of Healthcare — and Birth Experience

Monica has had two children in Norway, one via emergency C-section, and one unmedicated VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Both experiences left her feeling seen, supported, and empowered.

Rather than clinical checklists or rushed appointments, her care team prioritized conversations, consent, and natural approaches to pain management.

“They don’t act like you’re sick. They act like this is a natural thing — and that you also know a lot yourself.”

From home visits by midwives and lactation consultants to a free sleep consultant for her second baby, the Norwegian system, while not luxurious, is deeply human. “They’re not profiting off of you,” Monica explains. “If something’s viral, they’ll tell you to go home and gargle salt water.”

When her daughter was hospitalized in the pediatric ICU for pneumonia, the support was extraordinary: round-the-clock care, massages for circulation, and even “cheer clowns” riding bikes through the hospital.

Staying Connected Across Continents

Of course, expat life comes with trade-offs, especially when it comes to family. With loved ones in both Saudi Arabia and New Jersey, Monica has had to get intentional about staying connected.

“It has to be more of an effort. It’s not just ‘I’ll see you when I see you.’”

Weekly video calls, summer visits to the U.S., and planned family holidays have become sacred rituals. “You just have to plan,” she says. “Book the flight. Make the call. Be proactive.”

Despite the distance, her children are growing up immersed in multiple cultures — and Monica sees that as a gift, not a sacrifice.

What Expats Don’t Tell You — But Should

Monica’s story isn’t just about living abroad, it’s about living intentionally. It’s about choosing presence over pressure, and raising children in a system that values balance, safety, nature, and connection.

“It just feels right to be where we are right now.”

While she admits it’s not perfect, laundry piles up, it rains endlessly in Bergen, and she misses friends back home. Monica is clear: “I don’t need to go back to the States when I get this kind of care.”

She invites others to consider the leap, not because it’s easy, but because it’s expansive. And if you’re curious, she offers free 15-minute connection calls for anyone considering life abroad.

5 Pull Quotes to Highlight

“They literally lock the office doors after 5 p.m. They want you to go home.”
“Every single day, my son naps outside in his stroller at Barnahaga.”
“When you think of the quality of the school and the care... it’s pretty amazing.”
“They don’t act like you’re sick. They act like this is a natural thing — and that you also know a lot yourself.”
“It has to be more of an effort. It’s not just ‘I’ll see you when I see you.’”

Final Thoughts

Monica’s story is more than a travelogue or cultural comparison; it’s a reflection of how motherhood, when lived with presence and curiosity, becomes a form of conscious travel in itself. Through her expat journey across continents and her grounded life in Norway, she demonstrates that intentional living isn’t about achieving perfection, it’s about choosing what matters most.

From forest schools to universal healthcare, from 8-to-4 work culture to communal child-raising philosophies, the values of her adopted home have intertwined with her own beliefs about slow motherhood, self-empowerment, and aligned living.

For those feeling lost, overwhelmed, or disconnected in fast-paced environments, Monica’s reflection offers more than insight; it extends an invitation. To pause. To imagine a different rhythm. To consider what’s possible when we slow down, listen inward, and WandHERwild™.

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