Being an Expat with Kids

Being an Expat with Kids

I’m 67. I’ve been an Expat in Argentina for around ten-years. My ‘kid’ is 42 and still lives in America. She calls her step-father ‘daddy’. That’s creep-worthy enough. It’s cute when your kid is three or four, but for a 40-something woman to call a man ‘daddy’ is, well, just as creepy as you can get.

Nevertheless, I’ve managed to become friendly with expats with kids. I’ve watched and listened and have learned a thing or two about being an expat with kids.

Being an American expat can be an exciting and enriching experience for both parents and children. However, it can also be challenging to navigate the cultural differences and unfamiliar environments while raising kids. Here are some tips for managing kids as an American expat:

Embrace the new culture.

Encouraging your children to embrace the new culture they are living in is an important part of helping them adjust to their new surroundings. Exposing them to local customs, traditions, and languages can help them to develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging. By introducing them to local customs, they can better understand the culture and build relationships with their peers. Additionally, exposing them to the local language can help them to communicate more effectively and participate in their new environment. Furthermore, learning about the local traditions can help them to appreciate the cultural differences and gain a deeper understanding of the culture. It can also help them to become more culturally aware, and adapt to the different customs and norms. Finally, exploring the culture through its art, music, and literature can open their eyes to the beauty of the new culture, and foster a greater appreciation for the diversity of the world.

Stay connected with home.

It's important to maintain a connection with family and friends back home, especially for children who may be feeling homesick. This can be done through regular phone calls, video chats, or social media.

Find a support system.

Expat communities can be a great source of support and friendship for both parents and children. Joining a local expat group, attending events, and participating in activities can help to establish a sense of belonging and provide a network of support.

Seek out familiar activities.

Making connections with familiar activities such as sports teams or clubs can help children feel more secure, accepted, and at home in a new and unfamiliar environment. Participating in activities that are familiar to them can help to create a sense of normalcy, making the transition from one place to another much easier. Sports teams and clubs can provide children with an opportunity to meet and interact with other kids their age, establishing relationships that can carry them through the transition to a new environment. Additionally, these activities can help to create a sense of purpose and belonging, as children feel like they have something to be a part of, allowing them to feel as though they are in control of at least one aspect of their lives. Finally, these activities can also offer children an escape from the stress and pressure of transitioning to a new environment, providing an outlet for their energy, emotions, and ideas.

Prepare your children for the move.

Before moving, talk to your children about the changes they can expect and help them to understand why the move is happening. This can help to ease any anxiety they may have about the move.

Be patient.

Raising children as an expat can be challenging, so it's important to be patient and understanding with your kids as they adjust to their new surroundings.

In conclusion, raising children as an American expat can be a rewarding experience, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. By embracing the new culture, staying connected with home, finding a support system, seeking out familiar activities, preparing your children for the move and being patient, parents can help their children to thrive in their new surroundings.

Jerry Nelson is an American writer living the expat life in Buenos Aires. Some of the adventures Jerry has enjoyed, he jumped into the ocean from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Aden, cut off a goat's balls as part of a mating ritual in Indonesia, raced a NASCAR around the oval in Charlotte, created a small coin purse out of live Tarantulas in Australia's outback, spent six-weeks with the Sinaloa cartel along the U.S./Mexican border and sailed a 16th century schooner through the sound and into the open ocean.

Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, Jerry is always glad to discuss future working opportunities. Email him at [email protected] and join the quarter-million who follow him on Twitter.

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