Unresolved Grief

I never talked to anyone about the nearly overwhelming, visceral longing that took over my quiet moments; I kind of assumed everyone felt the same intensity. Until I realized it was an expression of unresolved grief that had accumulated in my life.  “Clearly I’m someone who really needed the catharsis [of farewell events]. Because of my own unresolved grief, these goodbyes hit me probably harder than other people.” What can we as parents do to help our Third Culture Kids (TCKs) - and ourselves - process grief so it doesn’t crop up again later? In this episode I talk about  My own story of unresolved grief, Why we need to engage in mourning, How we may go wrong with encouragement, and more. RESOURCES mentioned in the episode:  Effortless Family Connection Workshop Third Culture Kids A Gift to Care For by Ulrika Ernvik Drawn To A Story by Cath Brew: gifts and art for expats Third Culture Kids Growing Up Among Worlds by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens: 100 Practical Ideas Simple tips for understanding and expressing your grief by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. RATHER READ? I’ve got you covered with a blog post and transcript. ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? Take a screenshot and share it with your friends … tag @ResilientExpats. You might also like: Episode 5 - Stories & Memories, with Ulrika Ernvik 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 set up a conversation with Kim to learn how she can support you, go to ResilientExpats.com/Adapt and hit “Apply Now.” CONNECT WITH KIM:  Workshop: Effortless Family Connection Email Resilient Expats LLC website Facebook page Free Parents Community on Facebook Apply Now for 1:1 Support to smooth your transitions & maximize your expat experience

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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!