Living an international life and raising kids abroad is amazing … and it can get intense! Being so far away from loved ones, the constant rounds of goodbyes, piecing together a cohesive education at multiple international schools, the eventual transition to university with its own brand of culture shock … and that’s only a few of the factors adding complexity for globally mobile families.
I’m on a mission to raise a healthier generation of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) - and the parents who raise them! That means making sure you know the pitfalls to avoid, and giving you practical measures that really help. I’ll draw on my experience raising 3 TCKs, reading and research, experiences of friends and colleagues, including many international school teachers, counselors, seasoned coaches, artists and others doing fantastic work to ease the lives of expats around the globe.
I believe we’re stronger together. Join me for a heart to heart, full of warmth and compassion... for you and for me… because honestly I’m figuring it out as I go along, just like most parents! For more, see https://resilientexpats.com, and come hang out with me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ResilientExpats/); hearing from you would make my day!
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Sometimes we lose track of how we impact those around us. Recognizing our power to effect change can be very uplifting. David says,
“Thinking you canfixthe world is totally naive. But it's not naive to think you canchangeit. We change it all the time, whether we like it or not.”
Then it’s up to us to know when and how to engage with others who hold vastly different viewpoints.
In this episode we talk about
Why so much patience is required when “returning” from abroad;
How to know when others have the bandwidth to hear what we have to say;
What a peaceful society really is;
and so much more.
RESOURCES mentioned in the episode:
David’s Patreon community is where he shares music each week and hosts monthly gatherings online. This is a great way to support his work and get regular inspiration.
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You may also like:
ABOUT TODAY’S GUESTS:
David LaMotte is a songwriter, author, speaker, and activist with over 3000 shows on five continents to his credit. He is also the co-founder of a non-profit organization that works with schools and libraries in Guatemala, and a husband and father. His passions include conversation, photography, peace work, music, poetry, and the Appalachian mountains, where he lives with his wife Deanna and son Mason. David is a Rotary Peace fellow with a masters in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, and is the former Clerk (Chair) of the AFSC Nobel Peace Prize Nominating Task Group. His books include Worldchanging 101: Challenging the Myth of Powerlessness, and White Flour, a children's book inspired by the true story of a Klan rally that was subverted by a clown rally. He has traveled extensively and lived for a time in France, Australia and India.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Re-Imagine Community, with Ivy Summer and Pare Gerou
Season 1 · Episode 27
Monday, August 2, 2021 • Duration 48:25
Do you like the idea of built-in community and connection combined with plenty of privacy? Do you wish your children had freedom to play outside and with neighborhood friends at any time? Do you want to retire in a country with low cost of living, gorgeous weather and deliciously fresh, healthy food? Then it's worth your time to learn more about Greek Village Cohousing.
“It's really for anyone who is drawn to community. That's what it comes down to. If you have a desire to be in greater connection with other people and connection with the land, then cohousing is for you.”
The Cohousing Association of America Cohousing.org is a wealth of information and resources.
Greek Village Cohousing are planning a community focused on healthy and relaxed living, being in nature near the sea and mountains, and giving children the enriching experience of having people around from many nations with all sorts of talents and skills to share. There’s an information coffee Zoom every Friday, and the Outreach coordinator and original founder Pare Gerou is available for any and all questions.
Identity and Belonging, with Anna Seidel
Season 1 · Episode 18
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 • Duration 49:20
Parents who’ve grown up in one culture may not know exactly how to support their Third Culture Kids (TCKs) develop a strong, healthy sense of identity and belonging.
“It starts with acknowledging that our kids won’t have the same identity we do, and that’s OK.”
In this episode we talk about
Advantages of TCK life;
Why parents and family are so critical to children’s success when we move;
In this episode I share a few of my lessons learned in expat life - areas of my life that would have been easier if I’d had the right kind of support earlier.
“Honestly, if I’d known about a program like this when we were first starting out, I would have jumped on it. … If I’d seen a program like this and thought we could have someone holding our hand, teaching us not just how to do it once, but teaching us how to get along for the whole time abroad, with targeted support now but lifetime access so we could dip in every time we faced challenges, that would have been a game changer and I would have jumped on it.”
In this episode I share my take on the need for
choosing friends who can give wise counsel;
cultivating relationships with a diverse social network;
having strategies for dealing with chaos, overwhelm and uncertainty;
learning how to get satisfaction now, even while waiting for a desired outcome;
knowing how to have energy for the long haul
and explain how my program adapt.succeed.together helps with all this and more. Invest in yourself. You will grow. And the program will grow with you, too.
adapt.succeed.together. 12-week group program starts February 15 - with a special bonus for those who sign up by February 1. Get more details and updates on the .
Empty Nest, with Andrea Puck
Season 1 · Episode 16
Monday, January 18, 2021 • Duration 37:11
How does life change when your kids have grown and left the house? And how might it be different than you expected when you’re a re-pat?
“I was kind of torn between: I know she will make it, I know I gave her everything I could, everything to live a good life. And the other part was kind of like sorrow for myself. Since she’s the only child it felt like a loss. Deep sorrow. I can't even explain it.”
In this episode we talk about
Why Andrea still cleans her daughter’s room;
How her identity as “mother” has changed;
Ways their lifestyle abroad made it harder to let go - in surprising ways;
and so much more.
RESOURCES mentioned in the episode:
Andrea says: “I’m looking for repats who’d love to tell their story about moving back to their passport country. It’s all about grasping the concept of home and the challenges you face when moving back home. I’ll publish these stories on my blog to inspire and motivate other people so they can see they’re not alone with their thoughts.” To participate in this project or just start a conversation with Andrea send her an email.
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You might also like the full series on major life transitions:
Nutrition and Healthy Living, with Angela Warm
Season 1 · Episode 15
Monday, January 4, 2021 • Duration 01:03:15
Has your health suffered since your last move abroad? If so, you’re not alone. Tune in for a few tips on regaining and maintaining your energy and health, even while adjusting to new diet norms. Don’t worry, it’s not too complicated. In fact, Angela’s all about getting back to basics.
“We tend to steer away from protein. But it's so important for your immune system. And we need a lot of it, especially women in our late forties going into menopause age. Holy cow. It makes a huge difference. And not just our physical health, but our mental health as well.”
Simple shifts can make dramatic changes in how you feel. And yes, nutrition is important, but it’s not going to save you from lack of sleep or a very stressful lifestyle. Listen in to hear Angela’s four pillar approach to health.
In this episode we talk about
Ingrained subconscious beliefs stemming from childhood that affect our health patterns today;
You might be smoking a pack of cigarettes a day - even if you don’t smoke;
Seasonal changes in what your body needs;
and so much more.
RESOURCES mentioned in the episode:
Angela’s seasonal programs include Immunity & Beyond: Kick colds to the curb naturally; Spring Reboot: Natural detox & ideal weight program; Green Cleaning: Makeover your cleaning closet; and Seasonal Academy: Program for every season of the year, as well as the changing seasons of your life. Get more information and see her current offerings at her website WarmWellness.com and her Facebook group Healthy Living Community for Expats.
Women are still struggling to find information about “the menopause,” and it’s even harder for expats: a lot of the common advice doesn’t apply very well to people struggling to find their way in a different country and system.
”I'm shocked that in 2020, 2021, it's still difficult, and that A) we’re not teaching people about themselves and their bodies, and B) there’s still so much shame attached to it. We haven't got rid of the shame people feel around it and what that means.”
When we break out of the taboo and talk about what’s really going on, we liberate ourselves and normalize it for the next generation. In this episode we talk about
Explaining to our kids what’s going on;
When the hairdresser points out your gray hairs;
Stepping into a space of knowing you look brilliant at your age;
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You might also like the rest of this series on major life transitions:
Episode 12 - Giving Birth Abroad, with Ana Cuchi Gracia
Death, with Cath Brew
Season 1 · Episode 13
Monday, December 7, 2020 • Duration 48:54
Re-thinking how we approach death: Do you want to take care of things yourself or hire a funeral director? What are your options, really, as an expat? In this episode we talk about some of the financial and legal barriers that complicate things for families abroad, and emotional and physical needs of those who are grieving.
“It's really important to understand that grief is not something that has a set trajectory. It's a long process and you need to physically experience it in your body to kind of expel it. You can't intellectualize it. You have to physically feel it. And your body has to get used to the fact that there is this difference. And that physicality of it makes it a completely consuming experience.”
My guest Cath Brew recommends having conversations with your loved ones ahead of time so you’re much more prepared for whatever the choices might be, and so you’re making decisions when you’re not in grief.
In this episode we talk about
To stay or go? Knowing what you can live with;
Soft inroads to start conversations around dying;
What to say (and not say) to kids about death;
Continuing your relationship with someone after they’ve died;
Another resource for advance care planning (not mentioned by name in the episode): Five Wishes
RATHER READ? I’ve got you covered with a .
Giving Birth Abroad with Ana Cuchi Gracia
Season 1 · Episode 12
Monday, November 23, 2020 • Duration 01:02:23
How do you navigate something as intimate, personal, and BIG as becoming a parent, when you’re in another country and don’t speak the language?
“There's so many layers to giving birth abroad. Yes, birth is birth. Definitely we all agree. But you definitely need a set of extra tools.”
Ana shares some of what she’s learned through her own journey to parenthood, through listening to others’ stories, and through her training to become a newborn care specialist and a doula. In this episode we talk about
Doula what? Confusion between a doula, midwife, maternity nurse, newborn care specialist, nanny, babysitter, etc.;
Using your voice to channel your energy in pregnancy, birth and postpartum;
Surprising challenges + surprisingly easy ways to help it go smoother;
La Leche League - find your local group, Leader, or find a group holding meetings online
Book Now for your free consultation - you could have a "doula for change and transition"
RATHER READ? I’ve got you covered with a .
Self Care
Season 1 · Episode 11
Monday, November 9, 2020 • Duration 18:02
I took time off the past few weeks while sick, and I didn’t feel bad about it. That’s a big change for me. Over the past couple years I’ve upgraded how I understand self care.
“What’s changed is I now have a deep respect for myself that’s beyond my output. It’s tied to who I amalready... not who I’mgoingto be when I do that work or accomplish that goal.”
Now I’m focused on doing things that bring me small bursts of joy and rest every day; things I used to think were too small to count as self care.
In this episode I talk about
What I used to think self care meant
My new understanding of taking care of myself, guilt free
Why we need to practice this so we can model it for our kids
RATHER READ? I’ve got you covered with a transcript.
ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You might also like: Episode 9 - Unresolved Grief
ABOUT YOUR HOST:
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Greek Village Cohousing has just re-opened membership, and has had lots of interest from expat families who recognize the wonderful advantages of living in a cohousing community. It’s an instant tribe for the children, with an enriching environment and wonderful sense of freedom. It’s a strong support system for parents and leads to a relaxed and more fulfilling life as a parent: No more planning playdates or driving children all over the place. Pare says she found her years in cohousing transformational as a parent.
Ivy Summer is a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) expert with a decade of experience who has helped hundreds of people routinely become proactive allies to marginalized and oppressed groups in a multitude of ways. Her mission is to empower organizations to benefit from unique contributions that stem from the diversity of their employees and customers. She has coached folks in building a routine in their own business by doing an internal audit on contracts, websites, sales copy, imagery, email campaigns, and marketing to make inclusion a cohesive component in a brand.
Outside of her DEIB work with community-based organizations, nonprofits, and big tech, Ivy has coached yoga instructors, piano teachers, retirees, parents, social media influencers, and more to help them make incremental changes to express allyship in both business and interpersonal parts of life. Aligned with her mission to empower and enable others, she offers pre-built event plans for DEIB-themed workshops that are designed for you to facilitate in your own community.
Pare Gerou is an Immigration Attorney with a specialization in refugee law, and she spent many wonderful years raising her son at Touchstone Cohousing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was there that she fell in love with cohousing as a parent, and during the pandemic, she decided to marry her love of cohousing with her love of Greece. As a child, she relished her summers on the beautiful island of Lesvos. Now with her cohousing group of wonderful talented people, she is looking forward to fresh food from the Greek gardens and cooking with friends, trips to the beach and hiking in the mountains, learning Greek folk dance and listening to music, living with warm and welcoming people of Greece, exploring a beautiful country, and living a Greek lifestyle that is genuinely happier and healthier in her opinion.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You might also like:
Episode 5 - Stories & Memories with Ulrika Ernvik
Episode 14 with Jane Ordaz
Episode 16 with Andrea Puck
Episode 17 Where do you need more support?
Episode 19 with Renata Andrade
ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST:
I remember the first time I heard the term Third Culture Kid (TCK). It was 1994 and my mom sent me an email with a link to a gopher site (remember those?). I sat in the computer lab at the university reading it, fascinated. There was a whole world of “don’t-quite-fit-ins” out there. I work to help other TCKs and their parents find this tribe and how they belong there before they reach adulthood.
Anna is a certified trainer, coach, and engineer with 40+ years of expat experience who empowers clients as parents and as individuals. Building on a solid foundation of experience and state of the art programs she helps the whole family love their expat experience without regrets.
Anna has lived abroad all her life and is currently raising her own Third Culture Kids in a cross-cultural marriage. She knows what keeps you awake at night - as a parent and as an individual.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
You might also like:
Episode 9 - Self Care
Episode 15 with Jane Ordaz
Episode 16 with Andrea Puck
Episode 18 with Anna Seidel
Episode 19 with Renata Andrade
ABOUT YOUR HOST:
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
To inquire how Kim can support you through adapt.succeed.together., send an email or use the contact form.
Episode 15 - Nutrition & Healthy Living, with Angela Warm
ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST:
Andrea is married and the mother of a teenage daughter who just recently moved to the Netherlands to study. Now back in her home country, Germany, Andrea has experience living on 3 continents for over a decade. She understands the hassle of moving around and helps with getting settled in your home of choice by utilizing diverse Feng Shui methods. As an Imperial Feng Shui Consultant and member of the Expat Coach Coalition, she is facilitating a unique program tailor made for globally minded families. Combining the tools of Feng Shui with the methods of the Adapt & Succeed Abroad Program presents you with a fresh perspective not only on your living space but it also supports you mentally and emotionally. Home is an essential part of our life and it matters … no matter where.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Originally from the US and now based in Switzerland, Angela Warm is a Certified Health Coach and former environmental consultant. As founder of Warm Wellness, Angela specializes in helping women embrace their health regardless of what season of their lives they may be in. She especially enjoys helping expat moms find reserves of energy, reach their ideal weight and navigate their tiny kitchen with ease. She does this through seasonal meal planning, sustainable nutritional support and lifestyle adjustments, in both customized 1:1 sessions and seasonal group programs.
Angela went back to school after becoming an expat mom to two littles ones 18 months apart. What started as a fact finding mission to keep her family and herself healthy, and overcome constant exhaustion, Angela found a calling helping others make their health a priority. She now combines her expertise in environmental science, expat living and seasonal health coaching to help women incorporate healthy habits into their daily lives. If you’re ready to change your relationship around your health and get yourself feeling fantastic again, book a free, no obligation call to talk through your health goals.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Episode 15 - Nutrition & Healthy Living, with Angela Warm
Episode 16 - Empty Nest, with Andrea Puck
ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST:
Jane Ordaz spent a few decades working in the arts and charitable sector in the UK supporting other people to tell and shape their stories, be that as a funder, marketing manager or coach. In 2007 she was the recipient of a Clore Cultural Leadership Fellowship and realised her true passion for helping individuals to find their voice, follow their own path and succeed. This led her to qualify as a Coach/ Mentor, accredited by EMCC in 2009.
Not long after arriving in Mexico aged 49, The Menopausal Expat knocked at the door and refused to leave. Jane now supports globally mobile women going through menopause to manage these two huge changes.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Cath Brew runs Drawn to a Story and works to illustrate and educate about marginalised experiences for positive change - with a focus on Identity, Belonging and Expat Life. Cath is the author/illustrator of 'Living Elsewhere', a book of 100 cartoons about what it's like to live a global life. She also creates custom illustrations as gifts and works as Senior Designer at Summertime Publishing and Springtime Books (publishers of books by expats for expats). In addition, Cath runs 'Crock-of-**it-free Spiritual Guidance' helping people who feel lost and confused find relief and release emotional wounds, especially around bereavement. Clients tell Cath that she gives them a sense of hope, wholeness and inner peace.
'Crock-of-**it-free Spiritual Guidance': I help people who feel lost, are struggling with unresolved trauma or held back by insecurities to find relief and release their emotional wounds, especially around bereavement. Currently, all my clients come via word of mouth. This work is not directly part of my public presence in the expat community although it does relate to exploring our identity and belonging to ourselves. I will be launching publicly in 2021.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
To set up a conversation with Kim to learn how she can support you, go to ResilientExpats.com/Adapt and hit “Apply Now.”
Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats.
ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST:
Ana is a Spaniared in Budapest who’s passionate about creating a community of support for mothers abroad. In My Birth Story Abroad she’s collecting women’s stories from around the world to share knowledge and experiences to encourage each other. With a background in translation and interpretation, Ana taught at international schools and has now pivoted to personal support for mothers… soon to be a newborn care specialist and a doula.
Kim Adams is an American raising three daughters along with her math-teaching husband of 20 years. She loves photography, reading, thunderstorms, walking on the beach, camping where there are no bugs, and has a weakness for mint chocolate chip ice cream.
To set up a conversation with Kim to learn how she can support you, go to ResilientExpats.com/Adapt and hit “Apply Now.”
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