I Couldn't Raise Two Kids Alone in the US… So I Moved Back to India
Sahiti, a single mother, shares her one-year journey after moving back to India from the US with two kids. She discusses healthcare accessibility, career opportunities, work-life balance, and the invaluable extended family support in Hyderabad.
I Couldn't Raise Two Kids Alone in the US… So I Moved Back to India
Single mother Sahiti shares her one-year journey after moving back to India from the US with two kids. From healthcare accessibility to career opportunities and the invaluable extended family support in Hyderabad — her story is a testament to finding the right setup for your unique situation.
Key Highlights from Sahiti's Journey
- Moved back to India with two kids as a single mother — one year update shows it's working perfectly well
- Kids adjusted very well with extended family support and parents' love and pampering
- Healthcare in Hyderabad is easily accessible and affordable — a major advantage
- Found excellent career opportunities with three job offers within 3-4 months
- Work-life balance with UK-based company: 2 days office, 3 days WFH, supportive management
- Safety for women in Hyderabad is good — office cabs with tracking even for late hours
- Many colleagues and school parents are also NRI returnees from US, UK, Canada, Norway
- Key advice: Don't compare India eye to eye with Western countries — they're entirely different
Central Theme: "If I was there in back in US, I would have had a really hard time. But in Hyderabad, in other bigger cities, the healthcare is easily accessible. The setup that US and other countries have, I feel India is very very good." — Sahiti shares how moving back to India as a single mother turned out to be the right decision for her family's unique situation.
One Year Update: How Has the Move Been?
It's been more than a year since Sahiti last spoke with Avinash, and she shares that there have been a lot of changes — all positive. She's really happy with the move she made because, personally, for her situation, it's working perfectly well.
She emphasizes that given her situation — being a single parent with two kids and wanting to focus on her career — the move has been working perfectly well. Her kids have got adjusted very well and are getting all the extended family support and her parents' love and pampering.
💡 Key Insight: Sahiti's situation highlights how the right decision depends entirely on individual circumstances. For a single parent needing family support while building a career, India's extended family system can be invaluable. If you're considering a similar move, understanding why families struggle after moving back to India can help you prepare better.
How Did the Kids Adjust to India?
One of the biggest concerns for any parent moving back is how the children will adapt. Sahiti shares that her kids have adjusted remarkably well, and she was pleasantly surprised by the environment they found.
The School Environment
Sahiti joined her kids in a school where many other children had similar backgrounds:
- Kids from Norway, Netherlands, Canada, and America
- Her daughter found someone from the same area and school in the US
- The setup is the same — only the school is different
- Neighbors who were planning the move at the same time joined together
Her elder daughter initially had some issues figuring out friends. She slept for 48 hours after the move — and that's it. After that, she went down, found friends, and got adapted. The fun part is that when Sahiti was in India before the move, nothing much changed. Only the country changed.
The Transition: Her daughter is totally accommodated now with no issues. She's getting to enjoy Halloween celebrations, friends are there — the things that are surprising to Sahiti. The familiar environment with other returned NRI kids made the transition much smoother than expected.
For more insights on school choices for returning NRI kids, check out our guide on best schools in India for NRI kids.
What Surprised Her About India?
Sahiti shares several things that surprised her about India, both positive and things she's made peace with.
Positive Surprises
- Wealth and Lifestyle: "Indians are really rich. The kind of expenses and the kind of cars and the kind of communities we live in and the kind of celebrations are much different from what I got to see in my childhood and early 2012 and 2015. It is much different now."
- Fitness Focus: "People here are focused on fitness like more than US. There are like lot of wonderful groups."
- NRI Returnee Community: Many colleagues at work are also returnees from US or UK
- Opportunities: "There is lot of scope for development. And there are splendid of opportunities."
Things She's Made Peace With
Sahiti acknowledges that India has challenges but has made peace with them:
- Infrastructure: "India has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure"
- Pollution: Acknowledged as an area needing improvement
- Corruption: "Corruption, this is there"
Her approach: "That country is different. This country this world is India is entirely different and their problems are entirely different. And we got adapted easily."
What Would She Do Differently?
Looking back at her planning and execution, Sahiti shares one key thing she would have done differently.
The Housing Decision
Sahiti had a home in India that she thought she could just move into. However, she had bought that home as a young graduate when it was just two of them. That home was not suitable for her current needs with two kids.
⚠️ Planning Tip: If you have property in India from before, evaluate whether it still suits your current family needs before assuming you'll move into it. Your life situation may have changed significantly since you bought it. Consider your current family size, location needs, and lifestyle requirements.
For comprehensive planning guidance, explore our financial planning checklist for NRIs moving to India.
Career Opportunities and Job Search Experience
Sahiti shares her experience with finding a job in India after returning. She stayed with her then organization till September 2024, then took a break because she had to travel to Bengaluru every now and then, and she wanted her family to be in Hyderabad.
The Job Search Timeline
November: Started Interviewing
She started giving interviews from November. Unlike her US experience where the market would be down during Thanksgiving and Christmas, in India 2024, that was not the case.
Lots of Opportunities
"I got lot of calls and like lot of calls meaning I was open to startups, bigger organizations and everything... The calls were... I have been getting startups. And I have been getting bigger organization calls also."
February: Three Offers
By February, she had three offers to choose from: her ex-city startup, a bigger organization, and another startup.
Strategic Choice
She picked an organization that would fit her current needs — as an enthusiastic person, she wanted to work for a startup, but it wouldn't fit her current personal needs considering the pressure and work stress.
💡 Key Insight: Sahiti's approach of matching job choice to current life situation rather than just career ambition is valuable advice for returning NRIs, especially those with family responsibilities.
Work-Life Balance in India
Sahiti works with a UK-based organization and shares her experience with work-life balance, which has been a pleasant surprise.
Her Work Setup
- Start Time: Around 10 o'clock
- Office Days: Only 2 days in office
- Work from Home: 3 days
- Busy Hours: 2 PM to 6:30-7 PM (syncing with UK team)
- Environment: Very friendly
Another surprise for Sahiti was that many of her colleagues are also returnees from US or UK. She wonders: "Why are all of them returning? Because wherever I see like it's like if you want to see something orange you will see only orange kind? I even my colleagues are like my peers are also like they are return from US or UK or something like that."
The NRI Returnee Community at Work: Finding colleagues with similar backgrounds can make the transition easier and provide a built-in support network of people who understand the challenges and adjustments of returning to India.
Healthcare Accessibility in India
Healthcare is one of the major factors Sahiti highlights as a key advantage of being in India, especially for a single parent with kids.
Healthcare Advantages in Bigger Cities
- Easily Accessible: Multiple hospital options available
- Affordable: Very easily affordable compared to US
- Quality: Wonderful healthcare and wonderful doctors
- Convenience: Easy access for regular kids' health needs
This is particularly significant for Sahiti's situation. She reflects that if she had been in the US, she would have had a really hard time managing healthcare for two kids as a single parent. The accessibility and affordability of healthcare in Hyderabad has been a major relief.
For more information on healthcare planning, see our guide on health insurance guide for NRIs moving to India.
Safety for Women in Hyderabad
As a single woman working and raising kids, safety is a crucial concern. Sahiti shares her positive experience with safety in Hyderabad.
Safety Features She Appreciates
- Office Transportation: Office cabs available for late hours
- Tracking Systems: Maps and reports are being tracked
- Late Hours: Comfortable coming home at 7:30-8:30 PM
- Overall Feel: Good safety in Hyderabad
💡 For Women Considering the Move: Sahiti's experience suggests that in bigger cities like Hyderabad, especially when working with established organizations that provide transportation and tracking, safety for women working late hours can be well-managed.
Advice for NRIs Considering the Move
Sahiti shares her advice for anyone considering moving back to India, drawing from her own experience and perspective.
Key Advice Points
Don't Get Scared
"If we want to go back home. Don't get scared. Don't think that we are downgrading ourselves to moving to India."
India Has Opportunities
"India is like there is lot of scope for development. And there are splendid of opportunities. And there are libraries. There are lot of options also."
Never Compare Eye to Eye
"I would recommend anybody to not compare it eye to eye because India has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure."
Consider the Move If It's in Your Heart
"Consider that move if you have that in your mind one day to return."
Sahiti's perspective on her time abroad is telling — despite liking aspects of life in the US, it never felt like home to her. It always felt like an extended vacation. This emotional clarity helped her make the decision to return.
Her Summary: "For my situation India is been treating me very well. And things are going very good... I thank for the exposure that I had with the west so that I can see now what is good, what is right and how to think. That exposure is helping me to take my life forward in India."
She emphasizes that she's not comparing India and the West eye to eye. Instead, she's grateful for the exposure she had abroad, which now helps her appreciate what's good and navigate life in India better.
The Elder Daughter's Perspective
Sahiti shares an interesting insight about her elder daughter's feelings about the move.
While her daughter has adjusted well and is happy in India, her nostalgic connection to her previous school and friends in the US remains. Sahiti acknowledges that eventually, her daughter's aim might be going back to the US — and that's okay. The important thing is that for now, the family setup is working well for everyone.
🤝 Connect with Other NRI Returnees
Join a community of NRIs who have made or are planning the move back to India. Share experiences, get advice, and find support from people who understand your journey.
Connect with single parents, families, and professionals who have navigated the return journey.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is India a good option for single mothers returning from abroad?
Based on Sahiti's experience, India can be an excellent option for single mothers. She mentions: "For my situation, India is been treating me very well. And things are going very good." The key factors that made it work for her include extended family support from parents, accessible and affordable healthcare in bigger cities like Hyderabad, good career opportunities with work-life balance, and schools where many kids have similar backgrounds of returning from abroad. She emphasizes that her kids got adjusted very well and are getting all the extended family support and her parents' love and pampering.
How safe is Hyderabad for women working late hours?
According to Sahiti's direct experience: "At least in Hyderabad where I am living there is a lot of good safety. Like sometimes I come at 7:30 late in the night or 8:30. That's the late I have been 8:30. And I have office cabs. They have maps and the reports are being tracked. So the safety is very good." She specifically mentions that the tracking systems and office transportation make her feel secure even when working late.
How do kids adjust after moving to India from the US?
Sahiti shares that her kids adjusted remarkably well. Her elder daughter "initially had some issues to figure out some friends, she slept for 48 hours after the move, and that's it. After that, she found, she went down and she got adapted to friends." She was surprised to find that many parents and kids in her daughter's school had similar backgrounds — "They moved from Norway or Netherlands or Canada or America." Her daughter even found someone from the same area and school in the US. The familiar environment with other returned NRI kids made the transition smoother.
What are the career opportunities for NRI women returning to India?
Sahiti had a positive job search experience. She started giving interviews from November and by February had three offers to choose from — including her ex-city startup, a bigger organization, and another startup. She notes: "The calls were... I have been getting startups. And I have been getting bigger organization calls also." She chose a UK-based organization that offers work from home three days and office two days, with supportive management that encourages work-life balance.
How is healthcare accessibility in India for NRIs?
Sahiti specifically highlights healthcare as a major advantage: "Healthcare is like at my very easily affordable... in Hyderabad in other bigger cities the healthcare is easily accessible. If not one hospital like another hospital. For my kids like everyday they every month there would be some other situation right so I got healthcare wonderful healthcare wonderful doctors at no I mean like very easy." She considers this one of the key reasons she's thankful for moving to India.
What is the work-life balance like for NRIs working in India?
Sahiti works with a UK-based organization and describes excellent work-life balance: "I start my work at 10 o'clock. I go to office only two days. It is two days work two days office in days and three days work from home. It is very friendly environment." She's mostly busy from 2 PM to 6:30-7 PM syncing with the UK team, and after that, her leads tell her: "Hey it is 6:30 it is very late for you. You should turn off your laptop and focus on your family." She finds this supportive culture helps her focus on family and personal life.
Should NRIs compare India directly with Western countries?
Sahiti strongly advises against direct comparison: "I am not comparing it eye to eye. India is very different. Western world is very different... India has a long way to go in terms of infrastructure." She recommends: "Never compare eye to eye. That's what I would say." Instead, she suggests appreciating what each place offers differently. She acknowledges India needs improvement in infrastructure and pollution but emphasizes that for her situation, India has been treating her very well.
What surprised NRIs most about returning to India?
Sahiti was surprised by several things: First, how many of her colleagues at work are also returnees from US or UK. Second, the wealth and lifestyle in India: "Indians are really rich. The kind of expenses and the kind of cars and the kind of communities we live in and the kind of celebrations are much different from what I got to see in my childhood and early 2012 and 2015. It is much different now." She was also pleasantly surprised by the fitness focus: "People here are focused on fitness like more than US. There are like lot of wonderful groups."
Ready to Plan Your Return to India?
Whether you're a single parent like Sahiti or planning a family move, having the right support and community makes all the difference. Connect with others who have made the journey and get guidance tailored to your situation.
Join a community of NRIs who understand your journey. Get answers, share experiences, and plan your return with confidence.
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