Growing up Global: Things to help your kids adjust

I was just reading a few of the posts on here about kids being upset about Halloween not being such a big thing here,  and I thought about how parents can make or have made the move easier for their kids.

I grew up global and spent only 4 years from ages 0-16 living in the US and 2 of those where my first two so do not really count.  My mom and dad did a few things I think were key.

They always made me feel a part of the decision to move even if it was the military telling us we needed to go.  They asked what I thought and how I was feeling at all times.  They made it seem like I had some control and say in the matter or at the very least that what I thought counted.

Basically they kept the lines of commication open. 

They made sure that I got the best of what the countries we where living in had to offer as well as keeping me in touch as much as they could with US Holidays.  We celebrated all sorts of things and still do.  Plus as a kid any excuse for fun is a good thing.

They never showed fear or remorse or anything to me about moving.  It was always an adventure with new people and places. 

They themselves made an effort to learn language and culture.

They encorporated things into our home/lifestyle/foods from the various places we went.


So I know a lot of you have kids old and young so what are some things you do that help your kids adapt?

(Mindy not sure if you want this moved into parenting or here but I just put it here to start.)

I would suggest that every parent who has moved their child overseas read the following book:

Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds 
David C. Pollock, Ruth E. Van Reken

It's an amazing book on how kids adjust to new cultures and also what happens when they return to their own culture (for holidays or for good).  It's a well thought of book that is well written. 

Yes Onetiger that's the book that got recommended to me by LisaE as well.  It's brilliant and I would also suggest Unrooted Childhoods: Memoirs of Growing Up Global edited by Faith Eidse and Nina Sichel. 

Third Culture is brilliant in that it discusses both the benefits and pitfalls of growing up in a Third Culture.

I loved my childhood experiences abroad. Probably why I was anxious for my son to have the same for his growing up.

I was on the phone with my mom the other night and I thanked her for the childhood I had and she exprseed how awful she felt at times that she and my dad weren't around all the time. They had diplomatic functions to attend, and well, some things you can't say 'no' to...family or not.

But I didn't remember those times, them not being around. I do remember the rich cultural experiences and the diversity. The understanding that it gave me for other cultures. The compassion I have for different ways of doing things.

Those who have brought families and share this life with them...you've really given your children a great gift.