Moving overseas with your kids and transitioning to an expat family life is an adventure like no other!
Be prepared for plenty of adventure, challenges, joy, and everything in between! It can be exhilarating, its definitely exhausting, but is also filled with incredible opportunities (and some unexpected hurdles).
From navigating new schools and friends, to adjusting to unfamiliar cultures, parenting as an expat reshapes your family in ways you never imagined.
The Challenges of an Expat Family Life
While it may look amazing on Instagram, expat life isn’t always easy. International parenting means being far from creature comforts, friends and family support – which is hard work. It can also come with extra layers of complexity that you never even considered.
Some of the biggest challenges include:
- Education decisions: Finding the right school is often the most stressful part of relocating with kids. International schools, local schools, or homeschooling—each option has pros and cons. The curriculum, language of instruction, and school fees all play a role in making the best choice for your child. If you’re working in international education (like my hubby), then this makes finding the right school even more challenging. Not only does the school need to align with his professional goals and philosophy, but we need to make sure it offers the right things for our kids too.
- Cultural adjustments: Even simple things like birthday parties, school lunches, and playdates can be very different in a new country. For example, in South Korea parents are ridiculously generous when a child comes over for a playdate, often not just bringing food but also gifts. Something very unexpected for Aussie playdates! Playdates themselves are also very different depending on culture. In Asia culture I have found things to be more structured and less free play.
- Friendships and Goodbyes: Expat kids make friends quickly, but they also say goodbye often. One of my daughter’s first friends at our new school in Malaysia left after six months, which made it tough for her when she’d just found her feet. Frequent moves, both for your family and others in the expat community, mean that friendships can be fleeting, which can be tough on kids (and adults!).
- Language barriers: Whether your kids are learning a new language or struggling to keep up with their native tongue, language can be both a challenge and an opportunity. Some kids pick up new languages effortlessly, while others need extra support.
- Missing home: No matter how much you’re enjoying your new country, homesickness can creep in. Kids may miss friends, grandparents, familiar foods, or even simple traditions from home. As a parent, balancing their needs while helping them embrace their new environment can be a constant challenge.
The Joys of Expat Parenting
But for every challenge, there’s usually a positive! Expat life with kids comes with some truly special perks:
- Global perspective: Kids who grow up in another culture develop a broader worldview. They learn to appreciate different cultures, languages, and traditions in a way that can’t be taught in a classroom.
- Resilience and adaptability: Moving countries, changing schools, and making new friends all help kids become more adaptable. They learn to handle change with confidence, a skill that will serve them well in the future. I’m forever surprised by the stuff that comes out of my kids mouths!
- Unique experiences: From celebrating holidays in different countries to trying new foods and exploring new places, expat kids get experiences that many others can only dream of. Whether it’s a jungle trip in Malaysia, cherry blossom season in Korea, or a religious festival, life abroad does offer plenty of unforgettable moments.
- Stronger family bonds: In our experience, many expats find living abroad brings them closer together. Because there’s not any extended family support system, parents and siblings rely on each other more, which creates a tight-knit family unit. Although it can also lead to a LOT of sibling fights!
Expat Parenting Tips
If you’re considering, or you’re currently navigating, expat life with kids, here are a few ways to make the transition smoother:
- Prioritise stability: This can be easier said than done. But, even in a world of constant change, try to find ways to create consistency and routine. Keep family traditions and familiar comfort items to help give your kids a sense of stability.
- Get involved: Again, if you’re shy or introverted, this one can be challenging! But try to join expat groups, school communities, and local activities to help your kids (and yourself) build friendships and feel more at home.
- Embrace the experience: Our philosophy when we move to a new place (it does usually wane after a while unfortunately) is to say ‘yes’! Yes to new adventures, yes to new foods, yes to celebrating the cultural differences rather than focusing on what’s missing from home.
- Talk about feelings: Homesickness, frustration, and anxiety are all normal. Especially when you’ve just moved to a brand new country. Try to check in regularly with your kids, validate their emotions, talk about how you’re feeling and find ways to support them through the good days and the bad.
- Give it time: Adjusting to life overseas takes time! For kids and us adults. We always say that it takes at least 12 months in a new country to feel settled and throughout that time you’ll go through huge highs and serious lows about your decision to move. Be patient, flexible, and open to the journey ahead!
Expat family life can be a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and growth. While it has its fair share of challenges, the rewards are massive. Raising kids in a global environment helps to give them unique skills, perspectives, and memories that will last forever.
If you’re an expat parent, embrace the adventure – even on the worst days, it’s an incredible journey worth taking.
