Why I Moved Back to Canada with 4 Kids—And Have No Regrets

In 2021, my life looked nothing like what I had imagined.
I was six months pregnant with my fourth child, working full-time, holding a toddler in one arm, guiding my six-year-old through online school, and trying to support my ten-year-old emotionally, all while going through a painful separation that felt like it would break me.
What followed was one of the hardest chapters of my life. But looking back now, it was also the beginning of a transformation I didn’t know I needed.
This is the story of why I left Canada, why I came back and why I have no regrets.

When Everything Fell Apart

The relationship I had built my adult life around ended while I was still carrying our fourth child. Though we weren’t legally married, our lives were deeply entwined. When it ended, it felt like the floor dropped from beneath me.

There was no co-parenting. No shared responsibility. Just silence and a mortgage I could no longer manage, an unsettled separation, and four small children depending on me.

When their father left the country for good, I was left holding it all.

Every decision, every responsibility, every emotion, rested on my shoulders. With no support system in place, I made a decision many might have seen as failure: I sold the house, gave away nearly everything we owned, and moved my children and myself to Guyana for what I hoped would be a hard reset.

The Move to Guyana: A Hard Reset

I needed space to breathe. To regroup. At the time, moving to Guyana seemed like the responsible choice. I had a house and job lined up, family nearby, and a lower cost of living. It made sense on paper.

But six months in, the reality was clear: Guyana was not the right environment for my children. They were uncomfortable, isolated, and unhappy.

I realized then that love isn’t just about sacrifice; it’s also about discernment. And sometimes it means walking away from what you hoped would work, in order to give your children what they truly need to grow.

Why I Moved Back to Canada

1. Quality of Life for My Children

Canada offers a higher standard of living, something that becomes non-negotiable when you’re raising children. In Guyana, despite having a stable job, a home, and the support of my parents, my kids were uncomfortable.

There were no sidewalks to ride bikes, no clean or safe parks, and the heat and mosquitoes made outdoor play nearly impossible. These “small” things matter. They affect a child’s day-to-day happiness, mobility, and sense of freedom.

In Canada, my boys can safely ride bikes, explore structured parks, and access libraries and community centers that nurture their development.

Canada consistently ranks among the best places to raise children. According to the 2024 U.S. News & World Report, Canada is the third-best country in the world for families due to its safety, education, healthcare, and quality of life.

This is the environment where my children can simply be kids.

2. Education That Supports the Whole Child

Canada’s education system doesn’t just teach; it develops the whole child. It fosters creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills and not just memorization.

My children felt the contrast immediately. In Guyana, my six-year-old dreaded school. The teachers weren’t kind, the facilities were dirty, and there was no playground. My ten-year-old witnessed vaping and heard inappropriate conversations among peers. And this was one of the better schools.

Back in Canada, they’re thriving. There’s space to learn, space to play, and time to be with family. Homework doesn’t replace connection, and they are exposed to opportunities that expand their horizons.

Here, they can dream without limits, whether they want to be engineers, artists, athletes, or entrepreneurs. Isn’t that the dream every parent carries? To give our children the chance at a life we never had, the freedom to choose and the resources to pursue it.

3. The Truth About Co-Parenting and Fatherhood

When I moved to Guyana, I hoped the physical closeness would mean more involvement from their father. But that didn’t happen.

He came and went on his own schedule. He said things like “they’re too much to handle.” There were no commitments. No routines. No growth.

I learned that an inconsistent parent does more harm than an absent one.

I stopped wondering whether my kids were missing out—because what they needed most was someone who shows up.

4. Because I’m All In—And I Know What’s Best for Them

Coming back to Canada wasn’t easy. I had no family here. I was a single mom of four, with limited resources and an uncertain future. But I also had something stronger: conviction.

I knew this was the right place for them—and for me.

I made strategic moves to help myself: I applied for my P.Eng. license, enrolled in a Master’s in Project Management, and set my sights on a city job that would bring stability. I eventually got that job.

Sometimes survival doesn’t look heroic. Sometimes it looks like packing your life into suitcases, starting over with four kids in tow, and betting on a better future. For them. And for me.

No Regrets—Only Strength

I am deeply thankful for what Guyana gave us. My kids bonded with cousins. They spent priceless time with my brother, memories I’ll forever hold dear since his passing earlier this year. I was able to build a home for my parents, setting them up for a peaceful retirement with a steady rental income that supports their lives.

That time brought healing, reflection, and a necessary pause.

But coming back to Canada brought purpose, direction, and possibility.

I no longer worry about whether my kids are missing out. I know they’re growing up in a place where they are safe, supported, and seen. I moved back to Canada with four kids and no regrets.

This journey has been heavy. But it’s also revealed who I truly am: a mother who will always choose her children. Every single time.

And if someday my kids read this, I want them to know: I did it all for you. For your laughter, your future, and your peace. And I’d do it all again.