Parents born in the 1990s no longer send their children abroad to study; instead, they accompany them.
Every year at the start of the school year, social media is flooded with videos of students saying goodbye at the airport. Families embrace tightly, tears welling in their eyes, while the child drags their suitcase alone towards the security checkpoint. That lonely yet resolute figure, accompanied by the parents' heartfelt words and tear-jerking music, always touches the hearts of countless people. In traditional thinking, many families sell their cars and houses to send their children abroad to study, with parents scrimping and saving—truly "sacrificing themselves for their children."
However, times are changing, and educational concepts are constantly evolving. Having worked in Southeast Asian early-age study abroad programs for six years, I've witnessed firsthand the dramatic shift in attitudes towards studying abroad among parents born in the 1990s and 2000s. They are no longer limited to simply sending their children abroad; instead, they choose to travel and live abroad together, with their children studying alongside them. In their view, it's not feasible for a child to study abroad alone; the parents must accompany them. After all, everyone is still a "baby" at heart, and adults also have their own unfinished "poetry and distant places."
While focusing on their children's education, they place even greater emphasis on their own feelings, lifestyle, and the realization of their life's value. They won't sacrifice themselves entirely for their children, but rather choose the life they want—traveling abroad and taking their children along to start a new chapter in the family's lives. Thinking about it, I myself seem to be like that. Although I'm not a 90s kid, taking my child to Thailand, Australia, and the US was actually because I wanted to go. Using the "accompanying the child" excuse, it just felt natural.
So, what are these 90s and 00s parents we've encountered really like? Let me give you a detailed overview.
Travel Bloggers: Balancing Work and Life There's a group of parents who are travel bloggers with tens of millions of followers online. They chose Thailand because it has abundant material, low costs, and is easier to film. While their children are at school, they go out to film, documenting their beautiful lives while also completing their work—neither interfering with anything.
Diving Enthusiasts: Hobbies Become Daily Life
There are also advanced diving enthusiasts who, back in China, could only practice at the swimming pool on weekends. But after coming to Thailand, they live right by the sea, taking their children island hopping and diving on weekends, turning their hobby into a part of their daily lives.
Freelancing: The Comfortable Life of Digital Nomads
Many freelancers, such as designers, coders, and cross-border e-commerce operators, are not restricted by location. They might be in Thailand for a couple of years, then in Spain, Finland, or Australia, switching IP addresses at will, living the life of true digital nomads.
Family Businesses: Seeking New Opportunities Overseas
Some parents who run family businesses don't want to continue struggling in China, so they choose to seek new opportunities and markets overseas. In the process, they also allow their children to receive an international education—a win-win situation.
Self-Improvement: Growing Together with Your Child
There are also some "superstars" who, while their children attend international schools, also pursue master's or doctoral degrees to enhance their own qualifications. In the process of accompanying their children's learning, they continuously improve themselves, growing alongside their children.
Pure Enjoyment: Of course, there's another particularly enviable situation: doing absolutely nothing and simply enjoying life. However, this kind of blissful life requires being born into a privileged family.
You see, this generation of parents is completely different. They no longer see their children's education simply as "I'll give you everything," but rather as "Let's see a bigger world together." While their children learn English and make friends from all over the world at school, the parents are also exploring their own possibilities and expanding the boundaries of their lives.
The author believes that the best education is never about how much is sacrificed, but whether parents and children can become role models for each other and grow together. So, are you a forward-thinking 90s or 00s parent like them?
