Authored by Prof. Bree Akesson and Kearney Coupland, this new publication in the IOM Migration Research Series explores the decision-making processes of war-affected Syrian families before leaving home. Drawing upon collaborative family interviews with 46 Syrian families resettled in Lebanon, the research methodology included narrative discussion —spanning life in Syria, the journey from Syria to Lebanon and life in Lebanon—as well as drawing and mapmaking. The findings are divided into four themes: (1) how long it took for families to decide to leave, (2) the push factors that influenced the family’s decision to leave, (3) why families decided to journey to Lebanon versus another neighbouring country, (4) the push/pull factors in deciding to resettle in a third country. The findings indicate that there is much diversity in the decision-making processes that families engage in and underscore the importance of family agency in making informed decisions.