Healthy Expat Parent

A few months ago, I recorded a series of podcasts with Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, an independent Educational Consultant, about the application process for university and considerations that parents might have. Primarily, this is applicable to Foreign Service kids, but honestly, any soon-to-apply student and parent could benefit from listening. We talk about money, what universities are looking for, making a balanced list, and more. It's getting to be that time again: Below, th

Happiness is not the same thing as walking around with a smile on your face. Happiness is not having stuff. Happiness is not about being in a particular place. or being a certain age. Or having a particular car. Or living in a specific house. Sure, all of those can happen when you are happy, but they are not equal to happiness. Happiness is less about what you have and more about how much you can let go. Appreciating what you have. Looking inward rather outward. Look

Do not ask yourself "How will people see me if I try for this?" Do not second-guess yourself because you worry about over-stepping. You know you deserve this. So be bold.

Two thoughts about your people: If you're wondering who your people are, they are the ones who make your heart feel seen and your nervous system feel calm. Yes, it is that simple. And Love doesn't immediately create a home. Love has to be carefully and intentionally constructed by two patient people who feel safe to be their most real selves with each other. ~yung pueblo

Know this: there is no other human on this planet (save, possibly, your spouse or parenting partner) who consider your child(ren) to be the most glorious, smartest, sweetest, kindest, and most amazing humans. Possibly grandparents, but remember, they can leave when they want to. You alone are as besotted. I think probably this is so that when they turn into those viciously mean spiteful creatures they are capable of being, you will forgive them, and give them breakfast in

A poem for you, celebrating what it is to be spring. Rainy, and at the same time everything new. And we are still here. Spell against indifference ~Maria Popova The rain falls and falls cool, bottomless, and prehistoric falls like night -- not an ablution not a baptism just a small reason to remember all we know of Heaven to remember we are still here with our love songs and our wars our space telescopes and our table tennis Here too in the wet grass half a shell of a robin

Susie and Angi talk about evacuation, trying to find footing, figuring out the new normal, and dealing with stress. Sadly, evacuations are part of a consideration of Foreign Service life; right now many posts and 1,000s of families are impacted by the situation in the Middle East. Let's find some space together, support our friends, and give ourselves some grace as we deal with this. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18883637-finding-footing-during-ev

Social media is such a beast. Not only can we not tell if something written was AI-generated, but also we can't tell what someone really looks like, what (if anything) might have been changed about their face. Or their voice. Or their appearance. What's real, what's not? No wonder young people are struggling with mental health! Listen, you and I, we are smart, discerning, capable and skilled adults who have had a lifetime of experiences interacting with other people. We kn

I know, famous last words, right? Here's the thing: when your kids are very little, we adults think we can do anything we want around them and the kids won't notice, right? I mean, we all know that teenagers don't see or hear a thing if it isn't on a device, but little kiddos are not that observant either, right? Nope. Your kids see you. They hear how you treat others. They watch your interactions. They see how you treat yourself. Pay attention because they are payin

Humans like to be liked. It is in our DNA to be social, to have a community, and to be well-regarded. Oftentimes, this defaults us to people-pleasing behavior even when this means that the one that does not get to have enough space/food/comfort is you. I get it, though: I am a bona-fide people pleaser myself. I get the need to be loved, understood and accepted. Somewhere along the way, we have learned that being easy, helpful, or agreeable made life smoother — for others

A couple weeks ago,, we talked a bit about social media and its impacts on young people . This week, I want to delve into another unexpected but more common effects of time spent online. This is perhaps different than what you might expect: teens are self-diagnosing themselves with various mental health disorders. Unfortunately, this is often a result of watching probably less accurate and not reliable sources such as TikTok or Reddit, and highlights how finding informatio

Teens and tech and all the things It’s hard to know, isn’t it, just how big of a social experiment we are setting up our teenagers for with this whole social media + smartphones + constant digital immersion situation, amiright? Is this the time bomb sensationalists are declaring it to be? Is it a passing fad? If only we could know. It would be amazing to have a clear-cut answer to the question of plummeting mental health and teenagers. The water is murky, at best, and hon

Excited to chat today with Dr Kristen Cook, a pediatrician, talking about kids, adjustment and transitions, and how to parent the child you have. We move a lot in this lifestyle, and it can start to wear on your kiddos. Let's support their well being with some key suggestions. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18584336-kids-and-transition-parenting-the-child-you-have Dr Kristen shared with us some great resources for mental health support: https://www

This is going to be a little bit science heavy but hopefully by the end of this, you'll have a better understanding of your teenager's motivations, why they act like they have zero caution or sense (read: risk takers), and why they are actually not that different than we (sane) adults are. Question to consider: What motivates you? I am assuming you are a mature, forward thinking, capable adult and you consider motivation to come from different intrinsic and extrinsic source

Let's explore more for FS kids and college: this time we are exploring international options. Is your student a good fit to flourish in university overseas? Hannah and I discuss options in Canada, UK, and Netherlands, and include considerations for parents and students for exploring these options. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18505917 To reach Hannah: hannah@peakcollegeconsulting.com www.peakcollegeconsulting.com

Looking to make some changes, add some healthier habits, shifting the balance of your activities more towards “well” rather than just maintaining. Often, especially this time of year, people start seriously considering or moving towards adding new habits, or changing behavior. Well, listen, changing behavior is hard, my friend. In all cases of success, there has to be a lot of determination, will, and the ability to resist temptation. Effective change CAN happen, but it c

I am a rule- and schedule-lover, and I am not going to apologize for it. At the same time, I love a spontaneous rambling adventure. For me, the best times are with my kids, even if it is as simple as going to the mall, and hanging out over some weird food concoction in the food court. I love that there’s this pure and beautiful area of life where we are grounded, engaged, and deeply connected. My relationship with my kids has always felt right, and I’ve always trusted mys

Here we are with episode 3 from our series talking about Foreign Service kids and College. This time, Hannah and I talk about money. How to figure costs, what is need, what is merit and other kinds of aid, and how can we make going to university a bit more accessibly, financially-speaking. It's a very different ballgame than when we parents went to university! Grab your notebook and get ready to take a deep dive into finances for university. Listen here for the episode:

Recording # 2 - FS kids and University A chat with Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, an independent Educational Consultant with Peak College Consulting, about what it is students should be looking for in university, and how parents can support this piece of the process . We talk about location, academics, social scene, as well as a little about finances. We talk about creating a balanced list and what that looks like. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/1831679

First in a series of podcasts about Foreign Service Kids and Applying to College. We'll talk about what colleges are looking for, what kids should be looking for, finances, different types of schools, and more. We welcome comments and questions! Podcast # 1 -- What colleges are looking for in applications, and how parents can support their FS kids through the process? A chat with Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, an independent Educational Consultant with Peak College Consulting, a