I've been there.
You're an expat parent:
You have a sense of adventure
Hello --
You moved abroad.
Enough said.
You know adventure can be exhausting
It's not the same as vacation!
This is real life with all of its challenges, plus some.
You know a sense of loss and yearning
No matter how good life now is, living in a foreign country means you've given up some things.
You're dedicated to raising responsible, open-minded kids
You want the best for them, and living overseas is one way of achieving that.
Your kids' happiness is everything
It's hard to watch your kids struggle after a relocation, or struggle so far away from home.
You want to guarantee the best outcome
Your kids deserve to gain the best parts of living in another culture, and avoid the pitfalls.
But how?
What I've learned in my living-abroad journey:
This is a “both-and” life.
Yearning and contentment.
Aching and bliss.
Belonging here and there.
Loving this place and chafing against it.
The competing tug of “there” when you are “here.”
As an expat family, you’ll go through periods of chaos, enchantment, and heartache. You may feel out of sync with your spouse and kids as they struggle with stresses at different times than you.
Juggling it all gets exhausting.
Exhaustion isn’t a sign there’s something wrong with you or that you’re doing this adjustment “thing” the wrong way. It’s a natural physiological response to what you’re going through! Being bombarded with new sensory input constantly is tiring.
I understand what you're going through.
I’ve struggled with starting life over from scratch,
rebuilding social networks,
wondering how the kids will adjust in new schools, and
finding my own “thing” as an accompanying partner.
I want to help you move past those challenging bits, so you’re free to invest fully in your now and in your future.
My hope for you: Resilience!
That you will …
feel equipped to embrace the joys and endure the challenges of expat life …
be anchored in a strong sense of identity, even as it shifts and expands …
have flexibility and endurance to cope with life’s ups and downs …
build and maintain a supportive community.
I know it's hard to find the support expat families need
We had an incredible support network the first time we moved to a foreign country.
When we first moved to Thailand in 2009 there were
- seminars on raising third culture kids (TCKs),
- workshops for families who had recently moved,
- written guides and maps,
- live Q&A panel sessions to hep with orientation, and more!
Just before we left, we took a workshop for families in transition that was so much fun! We found it so valuable.
When we moved again there was NO formal support network.
When we got to Oman in 2014 we found a very welcoming expat community. We didn’t struggle to settle in here. But we noticed other people struggling with things we had been through before. There were a lot of first time expats, and not much knowledge about the topic of raising TCKs.
I realized there are expats all over the world who don't have access to wonderful support. I want to change that.
I began facilitating workshops for families in my city.
I love seeing the little bursts of insight as people get to understand themselves better!
The next step was offering the workshops to families in other locations. And so … ResilientExpats.com was born.
That's why I'm building a resource kit for families in high-mobility lives
Practical. Easy to consume. Easy to act on.
Quick Tips
There're a few things you need to know, even if you don't have time to read volumes. I summarize bits of the research, and offer creative ideas for how to act on the suggestions.
Workshops
Using right-brain methods, we can go deep ... quickly and easily. I facilitate experiences to help families process the emotional side of globally-mobile life, while highlighting the positives.
Individual Support
When you'd love to have someone by your side, I'm here.
Podcast
Ongoing discussion to highlight issues we confront while raising kids abroad.
About
Resilient Expats
Rooted and Flexible
Resilient
Able to withstand and recover quickly from stretching, adversity, stress or change;
To adjust well when faced with difficult circumstances;
To recover your health or spirits quickly.
Branches
Flexible and strong, producing blossoms and fruit. This represents how we stretch and grow with new experiences. We go through seasons, dropping old patterns and developing new ones.
Roots
This is where the tree's real strength comes from. This represents our history, culture, traditions, relationships ... things generally hidden but essential to who we are. We might feel cut off from our past, but it still informs our present. As leaves continue to feed the roots, new experiences continue to mold and shape us.
A few facts about me
Farm Girl
I mostly grew up on a farm in southwest Missouri, USA. I know how to use “ain’t” and “you’ns” (properly — with twang), but they are not regular parts of my vocabulary!
Traveler
Before the age of 8 I lived on the east coast, west coast, in Japan and Hawaii. I knew the world is fascinating, safe, and mine to explore. Now I’m a 10 year expat, having lived for 5 years each in Thailand and Oman.
Global Mom
I’ve given birth, raised a toddler, and provided mother-to-mother breastfeeding support in 3 different countries.
Adventurer
When we first moved overseas, I said I’d go anywhere in the world, EXCEPT “the middle east.” Ha ha - Never say never!
Some of my happy places:
- Behind my camera
- Reading a novel
- Walking on the beach
- At my piano or playing flute in an ensemble
- At my sewing machine or in a fabric store (Oh, the possibilities!!)
