Skeptical family? How they support our us

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”

– Suzy Kassem

When we dropped the bombshell: We’re going!

When we first told the family about the long-term trip with kids we were planning, it was like dropping a bomb. It was a skeptical family, and the reactions came flying:

— It’s too dangerous!

— It’s too expensive!
— Think about the kids. What about school, football, their friends!
— You can’t afford this!

We knew some people would be skeptical, but it felt like we were fighting a war on all fronts. We were standing in the middle of a storm. Everyone had strong opinions about how we should live our lives. We tried to explain that this was something we truly wanted, but no matter what we said, it only brought more worries and warnings. And anger. A lot of anger.

Choosing the Dream, Even When Others Doubt It

When you decide to pull up your roots and leave everything familiar behind, it’s not an easy decision. Your mind is already working overtime to process all the uncertainty. Do we have enough money? What if someone gets sick? Will the kids be happy? What if we regret it? Then we won’t even have a place to live! The thoughts spin in your head, day and night, as you step away from safety and take a leap into the unknown.

The last thing you need then is for the people who have always been your backbone—the ones who lifted you up when you doubted yourself—to become the ones who tear you down. When your supporters suddenly turn into your biggest skeptics, it feels like the foundation beneath you is beginning to crack. A skeptical family can be the hardest obstacle to overcome when you’re chasing a dream. Instead of voices cheering, “You can do this!” you’re met with doubtful looks, warnings, and in the worst case, anger. Every worry they express only amplifies your own. Each critical comment makes you question something you’ve already spent months, maybe years, carefully considering.

It became a test of our willpower—to stand firm in our decision even when the people we love the most didn’t believe in it. To keep packing up the house and planning the journey—while carrying the weight of their doubt on our shoulders. There’s a unique kind of pain in feeling like you’re letting them down, while knowing deep inside that you can’t let yourself down. Because what’s the alternative? To stay, just to please everyone else—and risk living the rest of your life with the feeling that you never gave your dream a chance?

Behind the Criticism Was Care

But over time, we came to realize that all the resistance from a skeptical family wasn’t about wanting to crush our dream. They weren’t being harsh to hurt us or hold us back. They were being harsh because they cared. Because they loved us. Every critical comment, every worried wrinkle on their forehead, every warning—all of it came from a place of deep concern. They needed to know that we weren’t acting on impulse, that we had thought through the consequences. That we had things under control.

When someone you love makes a choice that feels big and risky, fear is a natural response. And fear often shows up as criticism. They didn’t just see the adventure and freedom we were dreaming of—they saw the dangers we might have underestimated, the challenges we would have to face, the homesickness we were bound to feel. They wanted to be sure we were strong enough. That we were ready. They weren’t testing us to stop us—they were doing it to make sure we could make it.

From Resistance to Tailwind – When the Family Changed Their Minds About the Journey

Sometime in early 2024, things began to change. The idea of the journey had started to mature—not just in our own minds, but also within the rest of the family. They had taken the time to ask questions, dig into the details, and challenge our plans from every angle. And eventually, they realized something important: This wasn’t an impulsive fantasy—we were serious. We were in control, we were prepared, and nothing they said or did could stop us.

That’s when the atmosphere shifted completely. They went from being a skeptical family to becoming our supporters.

Dad Became Our Biggest Supporter

It may not have come as a surprise to those who know him, but for us, it felt like a milestone. He wasn’t the one who spoke the loudest in the beginning, but he observed. He saw how determined we were, how hard we worked toward our goal. He noticed how we gave up luxuries, how we calculated every single krone, and how we spent countless hours renovating our house and apartment to make this dream possible.

He realized that this wasn’t an impulsive dream, but a well-thought-out choice we had worked incredibly hard for. And when that realization hit, everything changed. Suddenly, he became our loudest supporter. He said he was proud—proud that we dared, that we went for it, and that we refused to let fear or the doubts of others stop us.

And that was exactly what we needed—someone who saw the effort we had put in, and who believed we truly deserved this adventure.

Mom – From Fear to Pride

Mom was skeptical from the very first second. Not because she didn’t wish us well, but because the thought of everything that could go wrong kept her up at night. What if one of the kids got sick far from home? What if we ended up in trouble? What if we never came back the same way we left? Oh no. She wasn’t against us, but her fear was stronger than our excitement. Every time we talked about the trip, I could see it in her eyes—the worries that would steal her sleep.

But as the months passed, and she saw how carefully we planned, how thoroughly we prepared, and that we weren’t backing down, something shifted. She began to see us through new eyes.
“You’re brave,” she said one day, and I knew something had changed.

She was still afraid, of course—a mother never stops worrying—but now her fear was mixed with pride. On the day of our departure, it was she who stood there with tears in her eyes and said,
“This is going to be amazing for you.”

From Criticism to a Visit in Asia

Haakon’s skeptical family were the first to meet us with critical questions. They were concerned about the finances, safety, and—above all—the children. Homeschooling? How was that even supposed to work? The arguments came like a hailstorm, and we constantly felt the need to defend our choice.

But gradually, something changed. Maybe it was because they saw how dedicated we were, how thoroughly we’d thought everything through. Or maybe it was simply because they realized that nothing was going to stop us. Whatever the reason, they shifted from being our harshest critics to becoming curious travel companions.

Suddenly, we weren’t talking about why we were going anymore—we were talking about when they could come visit. Destinations were discussed, plans were made, and the same people who once shook their heads now looked forward to seeing the world alongside us.

“You’re Leaving Me!”

My sister, on the other hand, was a slightly different story. She wasn’t angry, but I could sense that she felt a little hurt—“How can you leave me for a whole year?” It wasn’t real anger, more a kind of wounded feeling, a reminder of how close we are. We’ve always shared dreams, talked about everything we wanted to experience, and now I was suddenly going—without her.

But even though she was a bit sulky, I knew she wanted this for me. Of course she would miss me, but more than that, she would live the journey with me. She would follow each step, listen to all the stories, and one day—I’m sure—it will be her turn. Because this has always been our dream. This time, I was just the one who went first.

From a Skeptical Family to Proud Supporters – How We Got Them on Board

What once was negativity and fear suddenly turned into a wave of support and encouragement. Having a skeptical family at first was challenging, but once we showed them how well-prepared we were, they became our biggest supporters. Getting that kind of backing just before we left meant the world. It no longer felt like we were doing this alone—we had our whole family behind us ❤️

How we got our families to support our travel dream:

✔️ Patience and open dialogue – We gave the idea time to grow on them, answered their questions, and acknowledged their concerns without dismissing them.

✔️ Thorough preparation – We had thought of everything, from finances to safety, and were well prepared for the challenges ahead.

✔️ Reassurance and control – Once they saw this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a carefully made plan, their skepticism turned into support.

✔️ Time and adjustment – As they realized we were serious and wouldn’t back down, they began to accept—and eventually cheer us on.

✔️ Involvement – When we gave them a role in the journey, like helping plan visits, following us on Snapchat, and having weekly calls, they became more engaged and positive.