‘Stressed’ mom moves to Italy and discovers stark reality about life in America

Raising a family in America has been stressful for many parents, but this American mom no longer wishes to live in stress. After she moved her entire family to Italy, she learned the stark difference in life back in America. Sharing their life in Italy on November 25 on her TikTok handle (@clarahogan), the mom of two children does not plan on moving back to the States!

Former Bay Area residents Clara Hogan and her husband Brian had always felt the weight of raising a family in America, "wonderful but also stressful, very fast-paced and financially draining," Hogan told Newsweek. The couple shares two daughters, Etta, 6, and Poppy, 3. When Brian was awarded an MBA program in Bologna, Italy, they knew it was time for a shift. The family sold their home and moved permanently to Italy. "Moving to Italy felt like a way to give our family an adventure, but also a chance to rethink what we wanted day-to-day life to feel like," Hogan said.

In a TikTok post shared by Hogan, the mom of two shared the major difference she was able to find that helped her enjoy motherhood more. The mother shared that she does not fear for her children's safety at school. The family now enjoys taking walks to get to places, as compared to the gridlocked traffic in America. The mom also revealed that her kids are adored in Italy. "Kids are adored and welcomed everywhere. They don't expect you to hide them away or keep them quiet in public."

Another relief to the family is grocery shopping. In the U.S., the mom had to double-check before buying an item due to safety concerns; however, she trusts the quality of things sold in Italy.

Hogan admitted that it was challenging to move to another country. "I think people romanticize the idea of moving abroad, especially to Italy. I definitely did, but the reality is that starting over in a new country takes an incredible amount of work and tenacity, especially with young kids in tow," she shared. However, despite language barriers, her kids have been able to make friends and pick up the new language much faster than their parents. "They're basically fluent in Italian now," Hogan said. "I think the biggest shift, though, comes from the fact that my husband and I are less stressed and more present. That energy rubs off on them."

People at an Italian restaurant (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio)

A 2025 report by Brilliant Maps revealed that U.S. schools have experienced far more school‑shooting incidents and fatalities than nearly all European countries. The U.S. recorded 2,980 incidents, resulting in 1,111 deaths and 2,385 injuries, translating to roughly 8.7 incidents per million people and 3.2 deaths per million. However, most European countries report far lower numbers, which reaffirms Hogan's fear about her children's safety in American schools. Moving to Italy may have its own challenges; however, for Hogan, she finally feels like a "calmer, more intentional parent."

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