Is it a good idea to move from the U.S. with children?

[Proud Public Servant]

1. I would say yes, with some caveats

First, Europe is expensive. You'll want to investigate what the actual costs of rearing a child is in the place you're going. This includes not only cost of schooling, if any, but also whether and to what extent you'd have access to the country's social services (like daycare and health care). I would imagine much will depend on the specific benefits package that comes with your job.

Second, in my experience living abroad does not in and of itself endanger your shot at a security clearance, though it can lead to a longer-than-usual vetting process when you renew it. I would imagine that working for a U.S.-based corporation overseas might be preferable to working for a foreign corporation, but I don't really know your field.

That being said, we raised our daughter overseas from the age of 10 onward, and regard it as the single best thing we ever did for her. She had better schools, leaned a language more easily, and became an even more complex and inquisitive person than she already was. Plus, we actually worried less about her safety. It was a great experience.