In "Paris to the Moon," Adam Gopnik reflects on the unique experience of expatriate family life, which feels even more isolating than typical family life. He observes that while they had a network of friends, family dynamics often create a sense of separation from the broader community. The routines of family life—waking early and sleeping early—can make them feel marginalized, emphasizing their solitary existence as a family unit.

Gopnik highlights the contrast between the joy of sharing moments as a close-knit family and the inherent loneliness that accompanies it. Their experiences, though filled with happiness in their little family world, are tinged with a sense of being apart from others. This duality captures the complexities of maintaining a vibrant family life while living in a foreign culture, where the joys of family can also lead to feelings of isolation.