Shows
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Kids Part 4: Trouble ShootingWhat keeps you from emotion coaching your kids? Do you feel like you just don’t have time? You are just too reactive? Your kids are too young or too old? There are lots of things that keep us from coaching our kids through emotions. This episode addresses some of the most common questions and issues parents have about emotion coaching. Things you’ll learn on the podcast:When is too young or too old to emotion coachHow to adapt emotion coaching for different agesWhat to do if your child gets MORE upset when you emotio...2024-04-0231 minThe Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Kids Part 3: Five Steps to Help Kids Through Big EmotionsStudies show that kids’ emotional success is much less dependent on the quantity of difficult things that happen to them and much more on their experience with them. As parents, we can’t always control what happens to our kids—nor would we want to. But we can control how we support our kids through whatever does happen. And, this support piece is much more powerful to their emotional health anyway. On this episode we break down the “how-to” of emotion coaching. We discuss five simple steps to walk your child through a big emotion. This is the third in a series on e...2024-03-1929 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSelf-Worth: Confidence Part 4Last time we discussed the 6 parts of confidence. This time we're going deep on self-worth. Consider the following questions:What are you worth? (I 'm not talking about how much money your make or what your net worth is. I mean what is your intrinsic value as a human being unrelated to money?)What gives us value as humans?Who decides your value or worth? Worth is the value we give to something. Self-worth is the value we assign to ourselves. Why does self-worth matter? Think about something you have that is valuable. How do you tre...2023-09-2647 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Anatomy of Confidence: Confidence 3Just like you wouldn't want a surgeon to operate on your body without having taken anatomy, you wouldn't want to make a serious attempt at increasing confidence without first knowing it's "anatomy." In this episode I discuss 6 of the essential components of confidence. Confidence Quizhttps://forms.aweber.com/form/29/413260329.htm Free Coaching Session with Jennie LintonThis is a great chance to try out coaching and see if it's a good fit for you.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I ca...2023-09-1238 min
The Expat Mom PodcastConfidence 2: Why Confidence MattersConfidence is the foundation of our mental and emotional health. Ironically confidence begets more confidence because when we believe we can we do more, we try more often, we are willing to take risks. Confidence creates a rich life experience, it speeds up decision making, improves communication, and is frankly a lot more fun to live with than self-doubt. In this episode we dig into some of the benefits of confidence--I share some personal stories and some from clients about the difference confidence can make in your life. Confidence Quizhttps://forms.aweb...2023-09-0539 min
The Expat Mom PodcastConfidence 1: How Confident Are You?How confident would you say you are? Does it change in different situations? With different people? Has it been different during different life stages? It's normal for confidence to ebb and flow some. In fact, it's actually useful to have a little self-doubt. However, confidence is like the background music to our lives--it impacts how we feel, how we see the world, and how we interact with others. This confidence series is designed to help you improve your confidence. In this first episode we're going to explore how confident you are!Confidence Quizhttps://forms.aw...2023-08-2939 min
The Expat Mom Podcast3rd Podcastiversary: Tips for Addressing The 3 Most Coached on IssuesIn honor of 3 years of the podcast, today I'm sharing tips on the 3 most coached on issues. For each topic I share I client journey, a book recommendation and a podcast recommendation We are getting ready for a move abroad or getting ready to repatriate, how can I support my kids and our family through this? Ep. 109 Emotional DebriefingEp. 112-114 Navigating TransitionEp 39-42 Emotion CoachingI’m struggling in my marriage. Ep. 26 Why you can’t make your spouse HappyEp. 27 How to improve Intimacy in marr...2023-08-2240 min
The Expat Mom PodcastNavigating Divorce with One or More Partner's Abroad with Lucia LeviasMost expat couples don't plan on divorcing. But sometimes they find themselves needing to navigate divorce while one or both partners are living abroad. This creates some unique challenges for couples deciding where to file for divorce, deciding on custody agreements, creating custody arrangements that can be enforced in various countries, maintaining visas for both parents where necessary and a host of other issues. My podcast guest Lucia Levias, a family law attorney who specializes in this area walks us through some important considerations as couples make plans and offers some helpful tips about how to navigate the process. ...2023-08-0952 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Ten Commandments of NOT People Pleasing: People Pleasing Part 4Changing your behavior around people pleasing is a process. In the first 3 episodes of this series we discussed how to shift your mindset in order to stop people pleasing WITHOUT BEING UNKIND. This week, the podcast offers 10 practical tips to help you prepare for a potential people pleasing situation, navigate people pleasing in the moment, and a few tips for how to make NOT people pleasing successful. You can check out episode #119 of The Expat Mom Podcast to learn the 10 Commandments of Not People Pleasing.Free Coaching Session with Jennie Lin...2023-08-0134 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Cure the Niceness Disease: People Pleasing Part 3People pleasing is something almost all of us do. Chronic people pleasers sometimes don’t know how to stop. On this episode we dive into how to stop people pleasing. There is a practical four step process with several examples to help you see how it might apply in different situations. Free Coaching Session with Jennie LintonThis is a great chance to try out coaching and see if it's a good fit for you.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I carefully craft a short perspec...2023-07-2539 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Diagnose The Niceness Disease: People Pleasing Part 2Maybe you are thinking, "I don't struggle with people pleasing." And...you might be right. However, what many people said is that after taking this short quiz, they were surprised. I wasn't, because we ALL struggle with people pleasing to some extent. In fact, it's healthy to struggle with people pleasing a little--it means you care about others and you want to connect with them.The problem comes when it causes side effects in your life like keeping you small, not recognizing your own needs, resentment, anxiety, depression, and other things. 2023-07-1835 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Niceness Disease: People Pleasing Part 1Do you ever feeling the face you put on the outside, doesn't match how you feel on the inside? If so...you might be people pleasing. The Niceness Disease is another way of describing people pleasing, it's a term coined by Dr. David Burns, a noted Psychiatrist. The Niceness Disease includes doing something just to appease someone else--even if it isn't something you want or feel you can do. On The Expat Mom Podcast, we discuss more about what The Niceness Disease is, why it's a problem, and what the difference is between nicen...2023-07-1128 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Help Increase Your Child's Self-Confidence with Jamie EdelbrockOf all the things we could give our children, self-confidence ranks at the top of the list for most parents. However in a world of comparisons on instagram, high stress levels for everyone in the family, and unusually high expectations, it can be challenging. Jamie Edelbrock, an award-winning author, expat, mother, and mental-health advocate, shares with us a few ways we can increase our children's self confidence. Enjoy!Connect with Jamie www.jamieedelbrock.comInstagram: @tangledupbookFind her Books!Tangled Uphttps://a.co/d/g...2023-07-0349 min
The Expat Mom PodcastCommon Repatriating Mistakes: Navigating Transition Part 3After 11 years living away from the mainland US, our family moved back to the US for a year a couple of years ago. Most people expect going abroad to be hard, but they don’t expect returning home to be as challenging. And, they particularly underestimate the challenge kids will have; kids often struggle more than adults to re-patriate. One study found that 87% of repatriated kids felt different from their American peers. And, though they did eventually feel more comfortable, most never felt fully integrated. As well-meaning parents we do our best, but there are eight...2023-06-2729 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhen you can't stand your host country: Navigating Transition Part 2If you've ever felt like you can't stand the country you're living in for another moment, you're normal. If you've ever been in the middle of a transition and felt like you wanted to abandon it all, you're normal. In part 2 of our culture shock series on the podcast, we’ll cover 3 tools you and your family can use as you transition to another country. These tools apply whether this is your first overseas assignment or your 12th. It’s applicable whether you’re just going over seas or whether you’ve been abroad for years. The...2023-06-2025 min
The Expat Mom PodcastYour Brain in Culture Shock: Navigating Transitions Part 1There are 5 stages of culture shock, and each one is driven by neurotransmitters in the brain. Stage 1 The Honeymoon Stage: On arrival-2 weeks to 3 months long Everything feels exciting and novel and wonderfulStage 2 The Rejection Stage: Around 3-6 monthsYou are irritated, frustrated, and overwhelmed with cultural differencesStage 3 The Transition Stage: Around 6-12 monthsYou are getting used to the culture, finding ways to adapt routines and behaviorStage 4 Adaption: Around 12 monthsYou feel more at home in the host country...2023-06-1532 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Regulate Emotion Post-COVID with Kailyn FullertonToday, my podcast guest, Kailyn Fullerton, who is an teacher, a bonus-mother, an EdD candidate in social and emotional learning, and an expat, shares her insights on the emotional shift many have experienced post-COVID, and shares some practical strategies about how we can learn to regulate emotions better for ourselves and our kids. For some, the COVID-19 pandemic was a chance to slow down a little and catch up on life and connections. For others COVID-19 was an incredibly stressful time of uncertainty, overwhelm homeschooling children, having to be present with stressful relationships, and worrying about work, th...2023-06-0659 min
Holding the Fort Abroad#24 Myths That Threaten Split-location Marriages – with Jennie LintonSynopsis:Jennie Linton is a certified life coach, about to complete a clinical mental health counselling program, she is a mom to 4 daughters and married to a US diplomat. She’s lived on 4 continents and in 7 countries. She is part of the team on the Big Purple Blob, an online platform for US Diplomatic community and she is also the host of her own podcast, The Expat Mom. She is passionate about helping moms feel emotionally healthy so they can be the kind of mom they want to be.In This Episode:Jennie’s jour...2023-05-3044 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Power of Family DinnerIt's easy to put our confidence in fancy doctors, professionals, or books to know how to improve our children's mental and emotional health. And those things can be fantastic! Sometimes though, it's harder to trust simple routines and practices at home which can actually be as powerful or MORE powerful than more complex solutions. One of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to help improve mental and emotional health in families is simply having family dinner together. On the podcast we dive into all sorts of research that demonstrates the power of this practice. We al...2023-05-3044 min
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotional Debriefing: A Tool to Keep Kids from "Overflowing" EmotionallyTCKs emotional cup is full a lot of the time--meaning they are at the threshold of keeping it together. When an additional stressor is added, sometimes that cup just overflows. One of my favorite tools to help TCKs and Expat Families with is "The Debrief." This is a tool developed by Lauren Wells, and TCK Training. Last year I certified to learn how to conduct debriefs for families. It's a way of periodically helping reduce the amount of liquid in your child's cup so they have more space to handle stress. There are some pieces of deb...2023-05-2339 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Put on Emotionally Protective Armor for TCKs with Tanya CrossmanPart 1 of the interview with Tanya Crossman explored recent research on TCKs which showed pretty dire outcomes. However, Tanya Crossman offers hope to Expat parents how we can prevent mental health issues in our TCKs. It's amazing, the solutions aren't complex, but they do require that we be deliberate and consistent. As an adult TCK herself and having done years of research she's the perfect advocate to teach us how. Enjoy part 2 of this interview with researcher, coach, author, and expert Tanya Crossman. Connect with Tanya Crossman Cross-cultural consultant, TCK/CCK advocateAu...2023-05-1626 min
The Expat Mom PodcastRecent Research about TCKs and Mental Health with Tanya Crossman: Part 1Many books have been written about TCKs and some of the challenges and benefits of expat life for kids. But recent research puts numbers and specific outcomes to some of these factors, and the results might surprise you. In a study done on Adverse Childhood Events, TCKs had significantly more ACEs than their counterparts in their home country. These are predictive of a number of issues both mentally and physically. Soft research suggests that 85% of TCKs experience some sort of depression or anxiety. That is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than their monocultural counterparts. That's just one outcome of the TCK life. Tanya Cr...2023-05-0946 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhat Happens to a Couple When Relocating? Addressing the "Invisible Changes” with Karina LagarrigueRegardless of whether you’ve moved several times or this is your first move as a couple, there are invisible changes that happen to both partners during transition. My guest, Karina Lagarrige—an international psychologist who specializes in expat couples—discusses what these changes are and how to deal with them in a way that brings you closer, not farther apart as a couple. In this episode you’ll learn:What are some of the “invisible changes” couples experience when moving?Why do they experience these?What issues do these “invisible changes” create for the couple?The dif...2022-10-1954 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Expat Dad with Scott LintonHappy Father’s Day! Expat Dads play an essential role in forming the mental and emotional health of their children. Many expat Dads deal with “Expat Dad Guilt” this idea that difficult things that happen to kids or kids’ dissatisfaction is “THEIR” fault because of their career. My husband, Scott, shares some ideas on how to navigate this and other challenges expat Dads experience. On the Podcast You'll Learn:Some of the biggest benefits for dads and kids living overseasSome of the biggest challenges as an expat dadHow to navigate expat dad guiltHow expat life impacts your marriageTip...2022-06-1644 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Science of Play: How Play Can Improve Emotional Health and Family RelationshipsPlay is something we tend to associate with children. Play is essential for children’s development. However play also has tremendous potential to improve emotional health in adults as well as children and to strengthen family relationships. This podcast breaks down some of the science behind play and fun and helps offer some insight into the specific benefits of play in your family. On the podcast you’ll learn: Why play is essential for adult’s emotional healthWhy play is one of the best ways to connect with your childHow fun improves learningWhy play helps in co...2022-01-2431 min
The Expat Mom Podcast"I Don't Have Time" is a LieA common complaint I hear from moms is, “I don’t have enough time.” As moms we balance so many things: caring for our children, working on our marriages, keeping up the house, working or volunteering, not to mention taking care of ourselves. Often there doesn’t seem to be any time left for us and our interests or dreams. We can start to feel like we are in a never-ending sea of “have-to’s” and that we never have time for “want-to’s.” We can begin to feel a growing resentment and frustration that there isn't enough time. But there is a simple shi...2022-01-1024 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Adapt Traditions for Different Locations and Stages of LifeTraditions are important ways to connect and build families—however they can become counterproductive and destructive if we don’t know how to adapt them for our circumstances. Traditions are living things—they need to grow and evolve with us. This podcast shares three ways we can adapt traditions based on our stage of life and on where we live. Free Coaching SessionSign-up for a free coaching session.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I carefully craft a short perspective shift or tool that you can read in...2021-12-2723 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Use Family Traditions to Strengthen Your FamilyTraditions can be a way of creating identity, strengthening family bonds and passing along values and a sense of family to our children. In this podcast we talk about the science of traditions and how they impact kids. We also talk about how to sort through which traditions to continue with your family, how to personalize cultural traditions to our family and how to create your own family’s traditions to help teach and share what’s most important to you with your children in a fun way they look forward to.On the podcast you'll learn...2021-12-2332 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Holidays and Bad MathMany of us look forward to December and holiday traditions, festivities and getting together. However, sometimes in our excitement, we overestimate our capacity; we add all sorts of things into a schedule that is already busy! It’s like trying to add 4 more hours a day to the the 24 hours a day we already have planned with our normal activities like sleeping, caring for our kids, doing work, caring for the house, and still hoping to get 24 hours! It’s bad math! The whole reason most of us look forward to these things is because we anticipate they will bring u...2021-12-1628 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhat NOT to Say to Someone Who Is Grieving...And What To Say InsteadMost of us have known someone at some time that was grieving. If you’re like most people you want to help! You don’t want the person to suffer. But, it can be challenging sometimes to know how to help. On the podcast this week, I share 5 common mistakes we may make in trying to help someone who as lost someone.Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free coaching session.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I carefully craft a short perspective shift or tool that you can...2021-11-2928 min
The Expat Mom PodcastMooncakes, Candles, Homegrown Tomatoes & The Science of GratitudeGratitude has physical and emotional benefits, particularly when it’s practiced regularly. In this episode we discuss some of these benefits, how gratitude creates them, how gratitude isn’t something that happens to you, it’s something you can cultivate, and some fresh ideas about how to cultivate gratitude.Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free coaching session.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I carefully craft a short perspective shift or tool that you can read in about a minute or two. You can sign up 2021-11-2529 min
The Expat Mom PodcastGrief Part 4: Re-Calibrating After LossIn Grief Part 2 (episode #64), I shared my grief journey through the first two tasks of grief. In this episode I continue sharing my grief journey through the last two tasks of grief which are adjusting to the new life without the loved one, and reinvesting in a new reality. I found I was a bit like the little bird in PD Eastman's Book asking "Are you my mother?" I share how I found her--and a new version of me after her passing. Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free coaching session.Schedule2021-11-1529 min
The Expat Mom PodcastGrief Part 3 Moving Through and Out of Grief: Second Part of Interview with SiblingsThe experience of grief journeys, the timelines, and the ways we find more normalcy and re-calibrate are different too. In the second part of the interview with my siblings, we explore more about healing and help in grief. On this episode we’ll cover:What things were most helpful to you during your grief journey? Was there anything you did or do that has helped?How are you different after this experience?Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free 30-min. mini-coaching session.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomE...2021-11-0831 min
The Expat Mom PodcastGrief Part 3 The Different Faces of Grief: An Interview with My SiblingsGrief is as different as the number of people on earth. But sometimes it’s easy to wonder if what we’re experiencing is “normal.” I’m so thankful to my siblings for being willing to share about their varied grief experiences—it paints a picture of how different grief journeys can be for people who even lost the same person in the same way. On this episode we’ll cover: Experiences of acute grief right after our mother’s passingExperience of longer-term grief over the past ten yearsA difficult part of griefSomething that surprised us about griefFre...2021-11-0857 min
The Expat Mom PodcastGrief Part 2: My Grief Journey Losing My MotherThis week on the podcast, I share my personal journey of grief around losing my mother. I hope it will be helpful to you in your own grief journeys of loss. There is something about other’s stories that can be more reassuring than science or models—other’s experiences can offer validation, understanding, empathy and connection. I’m getting a bit more raw and personal in this podcast because that is exactly the nature of grief. I talk about how I navigated the first 2 tasks of grief. 1) Accepting the reality of the loss. 2) Experiencing the pain of the loss.2021-11-0232 min
The Expat Mom PodcastGrief Part 1: Navigating GriefTen years ago today, my mother passed away. Grief isn’t something we plan or prepare for, so when it comes it’s often unexpected—even if someone’s death is expected due to a terminal illness. I’ve been looking back at my own grief journey, and studying the most common things about grief that cause people to get stuck and what helps them get unstuck. I’m excited to share those tips with you today. This is the first part in a series on grief. The next few episodes will include an episode sharing my experience of my mother passing...2021-10-2937 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPeople Pleasing Part 4: The 10 Commandments of NOT People PleasingChanging your behavior around people pleasing is a process. Today’s podcast offers 10 practical tips to help you prepare for a situation, navigate no people pleasing in the moment, and a few tips for how to make not people pleasing successful. If you haven’t listened to the first three podcasts, be sure to do that as the podcasts build on each other. On the podcast you'll learn:The Boomerang PrincipleThe Einstein ExperimentThe Um RuleAbout Filling Your Own CupAnd several more tips!Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free 30-min. mini-coaching session. ...2021-10-1934 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPeople Pleasing Part 3: How to Cure the Niceness DiseasePeople pleasing is something almost all of us do. Chronic people pleasers sometimes don’t know how to stop. On this episode we dive into how to stop people pleasing. There is a practical four step process with several examples to help you see how it might apply in different situations. Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free 30-min. mini-coaching session. It can help make a struggling marriage better, and good marriage amazing.ScheduleOne-Minute WisdomEach week I carefully craft a short perspective shift or tool tha...2021-10-1239 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPeople Pleasing Part 2: Diagnosing the "Niceness Disease"Today, we’re going to discuss a bit about how to know if you’re a people pleaser or if you have “The Niceness Disease.” Because it “looks” like kindness, and it’s shrouded in friendly behavior and even reinforced by positive social feedback, the niceness disease can sometimes be difficult to detect, especially in your self; however just as physical illnesses are often diagnosed by a patient’s symptoms, there are both external and internal symptoms of people pleasing. . In order to help “diagnose” yourself or your children, listen and see if you recognize any of these external or internal symptoms. ...2021-10-0434 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPeople Pleasing Part 1: The "Niceness Disease"According to Dr. David Burns, over 75% of people with anxiety suffer from "The Niceness Disease." The Niceness Disease is another way of describing people pleasing--doing something just to appease someone else, even if it isn't something you want or feel you can do. On the show we discuss more about what The Niceness Disease is, why it's a problem, and what the difference is between niceness and kindness. Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free 30-min. mini-coaching session. It can help make a struggling marriage better, and good marriage amazing.Schedule...2021-09-2927 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Help Your Kids Be Kind and Help OthersKindness is powerful in lifting ourselves and others and creating the biology of happiness. But is kindness something we can “teach” our kids? Like anything else, we can’t force our kids to be kind, but we can do things to help children develop empathy and experience themselves the power of kindness. This episode will explore some ways we can help our children develop the skill of kindness. It will also address using our experience abroad to help toward developing children’s kindness. One this episode you’ll learn:How to help children recognize other’s feeling...2021-09-2024 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Science of Kindness and Why It Matters to Your Emotional HealthYou’ve probably heard people say that being kind makes you feel good. Most of us have experienced this through simple kindnesses like letting someone go in front of us in line or holding the door for someone. But, did you know that there is a biochemical change in your body when you are kind that creates that feeling? This podcast episode explores the science of kindness. We’ll discuss the neurotransmitters that are released when you are kind and the fascinating biochemistry of others involved in the exchange too. Understanding the science behind kindness can help give creden...2021-09-1317 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Principle of "Lift": How Kindness Gives Us More Than We Give OutWe often think of kindness as something that requires effort, time, humility, patience or other exertion. In other words, we often tend to think of kindness as a sacrifice. But is it? As we examine kindness more closely, we find that kindness often pays us more than it costs us. In the podcast we examine the principle of “lift” in geese and how kindness operates much the same among humans. As we lift others, we lift ourselves. Kindness impacts everyone involved—the giver the receiver and even those watching!On the podcast you’ll learn: The impact of kind...2021-09-0823 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Help Your Teen Trust YOU (Their Parent)Trust with teens is an important topic. Last week we address whether or not we should trust our teens. But trust in any relationship is not just a one-sided experience. Today we’re talking about the flip side of this equation…how to help a teen trust YOU. Trust matters. Whether or not your teen trusts you is likely the difference in whether or not they will share what’s really going on. And, it makes the difference in how connected we can feel to them. On the podcast, we discuss what things parents can do to enable te...2021-08-3030 min
The Expat Mom PodcastShould I Trust My Teen?“Should I trust my teen?” is a question I get asked in coaching, and it’s one most of us with teens thinks about. As parents we WANT to trust our kids. And our kids want to be trusted. But is trusting them the best thing for them? In my opinion the answer isn't a simple yes or no. I believe the answer is actually yes AND no. On the podcast I break down the science on the teen brain and why developmentally it might be wise not to fully trust teens. But, I also discuss how we can raise kids to...2021-08-2327 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSpecial Podcastiversary Episode: An Interview with the Linton LadiesIt's hard to believe it's been a year since the launch of The Expat Mom Podcast! As a special celebratory episode, I interview my four daughters ages 14 down to 5 about what it's like to be in the middle of an international move. You'll get a sneak peak into our family, and hear some honest emotion expressed--both positive and negative. You'll also hear what my kids think about having a mom as a life coach. Free Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a free 30-min. mini-coaching session. It can help make a struggling marriage better, and good marri...2021-08-2024 min
The Expat Mom PodcastMistakes Parents Make with Teens with Ginger HabelParenting teens requires a totally different brand of parenting than younger children. Sometimes parents of teens get frustrated because the parenting they used to use doesn’t work as well, but also because don’t have the same control or influence over their kids that they used to. It’s a transition for parents. In the process of sorting it all out, parents often end up struggling in their relationships with their teens and they make lots of mistakes. My podcast guest, Ginger Habel, interviewed several seventh-grade students and asked them what they wished their parents would do differently. Whether you...2021-08-0935 min
The Expat Mom PodcastTeens and School Transition with Ginger HabelAugust is the time many teens are making school transitions. While transitions are challenging for kids of all ages—teens often struggle the most because they depend developmentally on social and moving makes social connection more uncertain. In addition, their academic accomplishments tend to hold more gravity so challenges in transition tend to affect kids in the long-term. In addition to all this expat kids may be adjusting to a new language, a new culture and the social and academic ramifications of these things. My podcast guest, Ginger Habel, shares some recommendations about how parents can support their teens during...2021-08-0142 min
The Expat Mom PodcastTCKs and Identity Part 2 with Lauren WellsTCKs have some unique challenges and tend to have more grief and loss in their lives than a mono-cultural kid might experience. However, there are lots of things parents can do in order to help kids develop a healthy identity and stay emotionally healthy. This podcast features the second half of the interview with Lauren Wells, the author of the book, “Raising up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids.” We discuss some practical things parents can do to make the transition back to your home country easier, we discuss more about how to remove blocks from your child’s grief t...2021-07-2633 min
The Expat Mom PodcastTCKs and Identity with Lauren WellsIf you are an expat raising kids abroad—your kids are “Third Culture Kids,” meaning—they are spending some of their developmental years living in a culture different from their parent’s passport culture. They are a third culture kids because they aren’t living in their pp culture, they don’t totally fit into the culture they live in—they are part of a third culture as an expat. Research has shown over the past few decades that people with this experience tend to experience a set of similar challenges, and tend to develop similar positive attributes. Understanding this experience can...2021-07-1930 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSupporting Kids with Anxiety with Alivia Irwin Part 2Rates of anxiety in expat kids are high. The unique lifestyle it’s challenges can exacerbate anxiety. However, there is lots parents can do to support kids. On this episode my podcast guest, Alivia Irwin LCSW, shares some tools to help. On the podcast you’ll learn: How does moving impact kids with anxiety? How can I best support my kids during a move? How do I support my teen with anxiety around social issues?How much does sleep affect anxiety?Contact Alivia IrwinWebsite: https://www.aliviairwin.com/Instagram: @a...2021-07-1239 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSupporting Kids with Anxiety with Alivia Irwin Part 1Rates of children with anxiety everywhere are rising, but the rates are even higher among the expat population. Many expat children struggle with anxiety. On the podcast, Alivia Irwin, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in anxiety herself and has been an expat twice addresses how parents can best support kids with anxiety. One the podcast you’ll learn:What happens to a child biologically when they experience anxietyHow to support a child in the moment of high anxietyHow to help children deal with anxiety in the long-term to lessen itAbout habitu...2021-07-0538 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Get Your Kids to Open Up and Talk to You MoreSometimes getting kids to share details about the day can feel like pulling teeth out! While we can't force our kids to talk, there are a few simple things we can do to help our kids open up and be willing to share. One the episode you'll learn:How your agenda and your child's agenda might not matchThe type of questions to use...and which ones NOT to useHow to respond so your child wants to keep talkingHow to know when to back offSend me an email with a question or wi...2021-06-2822 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSibling Rivalry Part 2Sometimes dealing with sibling rivalry can feel exhausting!! One of the best ways to mitigate the potential harm from sibling rivalry is to teach children how to fight right. In other words, rather than just stopping the conflict—we can teach kids HOW to resolve it. This meta-skill is SO valuable, much more valuable than simply ending the chaos of the moment during a sibling quarrel. In this episode we learn what we can do as parents to set our kids up for success in resolving conflict. On the podcast you'll learn:*When should...2021-06-2131 min
The Expat Mom PodcastSibling Rivalry Part 1If you have more than one child, you’ve probably experienced some fighting and some rivalry between your kids. Actually, expat life is very supportive of sibling relationships and many families report that living abroad helps their kids feel close since they depend more on each other and have unique shared experiences. But being together a lot can also mean there is conflict. Today on the podcast we explore some of the benefits of sibling conflict, how to use rivalry to teach your children, and how to stay calm yourself. On the podcast you'll learn:*B...2021-06-1425 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Enjoy Traveling with KidsTraveling with kids can have some amazing benefits, but it can also be challenging. On this episode we discuss how minimize the challenges and accentuate the benefits to really enjoy traveling with kids. On this episode you'll learn:What science says about the benefits of travel with kidsHow to prepare for an enjoyable trip with kidsHow add more fun into your travelHow to support kids with anxiety while travelingWhy what you do after travel has a lot to do with your experienceSend me an email with a question or with an experience2021-06-0723 min
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Part 4: Troubleshooting & Making Emotion Coaching the NormWhat keeps you from emotion coaching your kids? Do you feel like you just don’t have time? You are just too reactive? Your kids are too young or too old? There are lots of things that keep us from coaching our kids through emotions. This episode addresses some of the most common questions and issues parents have about emotion coaching. Things you’ll learn on the podcast:When is too young or too old to emotion coachHow to adapt emotion coaching for different agesWhat to do if your child gets MORE upset when you emotio...2021-05-3131 min
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Kids Part 3: Five Steps to Help Kids Deal with Big Emotions in a Healthy WayStudies show that kids’ emotional success is much less dependent on the quantity of difficult things that happen to them and much more on their experience with them. As parents, we can’t always control what happens to our kids—nor would we want to. But we can control how we support our kids through whatever does happen. And, this support piece is much more powerful to their emotional health anyway. On this episode we break down the “how-to” of emotion coaching. We discuss five simple steps to walk your child through a big emotion. This is the third in a series on e...2021-05-2429 min
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Kids Part 2: Getting in the Right MindsetMost of us think that we’re being a good parent if we keep our kids happy. But that’s not true. In fact, some of our best parenting can occur when our kids are experiencing a negative emotion. That’s because studies show that kids’ emotional health is less dependent on the amount of negative emotion they experience and more on how they were supported through it. When we are able to coach our kids through negative emotions and companion them along the way—we offer them a much more valuable gift than simply trying to eliminate stressful things or ac...2021-05-1722 min
The Expat Mom PodcastEmotion Coaching Kids Part 1: What Not to Do!Kids and big emotions often go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s part of the business of childhood and our teen years to figure out how to deal with our emotions. And, as parents we can be a help or a hinderance in that process. It isn’t always intuitive to know how to help kids with emotions—in fact we often want to avoid negative emotions for our kids. This week on the podcast we examine some of the mistakes parents make when responding to kids’ negative emotions. On the podcast you'll learn:Four parenting...2021-05-1019 min
The Expat Mom PodcastDealing with "Stuff" on Both Sides of a Move with Lisa CrawfordGetting your stuff pared down to a weight or space allotment for a move can feel daunting. And then there is figuring out what to bring in suitcases, air shipments, sea shipments and what to put in storage! Once you get to your destination, you're faced with "stuff" again, and trying to decide where to put it all. Lisa Crawford, an experienced expat mom, shares some easy, practical tools to help us deal with stuff on both sides of a move. On the podcast you'll learn:How to make a stuff "map" of your home...2021-05-0331 min
The Expat Mom PodcastDecreasing Overwhelm in Transition with Angie CollinsFor many expat families, stuff + moving = stress. Families often have weight limits or financial restrictions on how much they can move. And at the same time they have lots of items that are important to them and may tell a story about their lives. This can create some stress leading up to a move about how to organize and prepare for the move. My guest today is an organization and parenting expert. She shares some tools for how to approach dealing with stuff on both sides of a move. She’ll also share some helpful tools for staying organized and usin...2021-04-2640 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPart 3 Repatriation and Kids | Eight Mistakes Parents MakeMost people expect going abroad to be hard, but they don’t expect returning home to be as challenging. In particular, they often underestimate the challenge kids will have re-adjusting. While meaning to be helpful there are eight common mistakes parents make that actually make readjusting harder for kids. Today on the podcast we look at each of these mistakes and discuss a healthier approach to support our kids in transition!This topic is part of our April focus on how to navigate transitions in expat life. This is the third part of a 3-part series on cultur...2021-04-1928 min
The Expat Mom PodcastPart 2: Navigating Culture ShockThere are some intentional things we can do to help adjust our mindsets, and help ourselves move through the stages of culture shock with more speed, more confidence, and less frustration. In part 2 of our culture shock series, we’ll cover 3 tools you and your family can use as you transition to another country. These tools apply whether this is your first overseas assignment or your 12th. In this episode you’ll learn:How to navigate each stage of culture shockHow to use the first honeymoon stage to help you in later stagesWhy feeling irritat...2021-04-1225 min
The Expat Mom PodcastCulture Shock and the BrainThere are five stages of culture shock when we move to another country. Understanding the can help us normalize our experience, blame ourselves less and help us realize it won’t last forever! This is part 1 of the culture-shock series. On the podcast this week you’ll learn: Why we experience culture shockThe 5 different stages of culture shockCommon timelines when experience culture shock What is happening in the brain to cause culture shockHow culture shock is a healthy brain responseThe benefits of understanding the stages of culture shockFree Mini-Coaching SessionSign...2021-04-0428 min
The Expat Mom PodcastA New Approach to Self-Care and Awareness with Leslie DeGrandeYou've probably heard the buzzwords "self-care" and "awareness" in podcasts, magazines, and self-help books. But they can refer to such a large range of things. Today on the podcast, my guest helps define "self-care" in a fresh way and offers an equation you can use to determine how to choose and benefit from self-care. She defines "awareness" and gives a practical way to practice it in your life to help you improve your emotional health. Today on the podcast you'll learn:The definition of self-careLearn how to choose a self-care practiceThe definition of awarenessLearn why...2021-03-2847 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Untwist Your ThinkingHave you ever eaten one of those twisty donuts at the bakery? Our thoughts are a bit like those donuts. They get twisted and distorted. Of course we don't mean to make them this way. It just happens as we have life experiences, our biology is imperfect, we have families who model imperfect ways of thinking and being. The problem with distorted thinking is that it often causes us to feel worse than we need to and to act in ways we don't want to. Today on the podcast I'm teaching how to untwist your thinking. On the...2021-03-2122 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow a Pencil Can Help Control the Negative Chatter in Your MindEach of us has an on-going dialogue in our minds. Did you know you can listen to yourself think? Today on the podcast, we're discussing how powerful our mental dialogue is in how we feel. And...how to get some leverage over our dialogue, especially when we're feeling stuck or in a low place. On the podcast you'll learn:How many thoughts we have each day! Why paying attention to our mental dialogue mattersHow to get recognize what you're thinkingThe benefits of writing down your thoughtsFree Mini-Coaching SessionSign-up for a...2021-03-1419 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhy Trying to Feel Happier is Making You MiserableMost of us believe that happiness is superior to other emotions. But is it? Many of us if given the option would love to feel happy all the time--at least we THINK we would. But are there benefits to negative emotions? And does trying to be happier actually lead to feeling happier? Today on the podcast, we address some of these questions. And I share part of my journey with emotional health and emotion. This month on the podcast we’re covering how to improve your emotional resilience. Studies show that 50% of expats have depression; this is 3x higher t...2021-03-0727 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Love Your Spouse After They Have Hurt or Disappointed YouJust like we have different seasons in our weather, our marriages have different seasons too. In marriage, spring is characterized by hope, warmth, and excitement about the possibilities of the relationship, while winter is characterized by coldness, harshness and uncertainty about the future. We often enter winter when we’ve been hurt or disappointed by our spouse. All 4 seasons of marriage can actually allow us to deepen our love. On the podcast we’ll discuss how increase your capacity to love even when you’ve been hurt or disappointed. And we’ll talk about how to keep moving through winter and fa...2021-02-2827 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to See Your Spouse with New Eyes: Getting Rid of Self-DeceptionWe often assume the way we see our spouse is simply the way they are. But actually, most of us see our spouse through a distorted filter. My Dad recently had cataract surgery. When the cataracts were removed, he was surprised how much clearer and whiter his vision was—he had assumed for years that the way he saw them was simply the way they were. But in reality it was not the way they were—it was the way he saw them. The same is true for us. We see our spouse through a filter that distorts who they reall...2021-02-2227 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Improve Intimacy in Marriage, with Amanda LouderOne important aspect of marriage is sexual intimacy. I'm excited to share with you an interview with Certified Sex and Marriage Coach Amanda Louder. In this interview, Amanda offers some fantastic insights into how men and women differ in their approach to intimacy; specifically why many women have lower sexual desire than their husbands. She offers some suggestions about how to increase desire and cultivate romance and intimacy in your marriage. We also cover aspects of sex and intimacy that are specific to expat life--things such as navigating sex during stressful time, and how to increase intimacy whil...2021-02-1335 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhy You Can't MAKE Your Spouse HappyMost of us were given the advice when we got married, “Do everything you can to make your spouse happy.” This sounds like such lovely and good advice. I agree that we should be loving and kind and sacrificing. But when we do these things with the expectation that it will make our spouse happy, very often we undermine our happiness and the happiness of our spouse. In other words when we do this we are people pleasing—doing something in order to manipulate someone’s response. There is a much healthier and much more fun way of cultivating happiness in...2021-02-1028 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Fail...And Why You Might Want To!I don’t know many people who LIKE to fail. But like it or not, life includes lots of failure. That is—if you’re stretching yourself enough to actually be growing. The reason most of us fear failure is we don’t like feeling humiliated, disappointed and frustrated. But did you know that it is possible to have a different experience with failure. Did you know failure could be fun? This week on the podcast I’m going to teach you how to fail in a way that’s useful…and maybe even fun. In this episode you’ll lea...2021-02-0326 min
The Expat Mom PodcastBrain Hacks to STAY Consistent With Your GoalsWhile many of us love to set goals, being consistent with them can be challenging. They are challenging because new behaviors take more effort and they can be uncomfortable. It’s easier to just do what we’ve always done…and our lower brains like ease. If we haven’t set up the right systems for ourselves, the lower brain often wins out and we procrastinate or give up on our goal. In order to be consistent we can use a couple of tools to help our lower brains work for us, not against us in accomplishing our goals. 2021-01-2828 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThree Common Mistakes That Sabotage Our GoalsWhen we plan out our goals we often assume it will be like driving to the grocery store, hitting all green lights, getting a front row parking spot, not waiting in line and zipping home. But it never is. There are always obstacles that come up. Today on the podcast I’m sharing 3 common mistakes we make that derail our goals so you can be more successful at avoiding these mistakes. On this episode you’ll learn: A healthy way to define if you’re being successful at your goal day to dayHow to anticipate...2021-01-2122 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWriting a Recipe for Goal SuccessDid you know 80% of New Year's resolutions fail? And most of them fail by mid-February. That is a sobering statistic. I've been part of that statistic until a few years ago, when I learned some simple tools that have helped me and my clients actually accomplish our goals instead of just make them. Accomplishing goals is actually like creating and following a recipe. In this episode you'll learn:How to move past overwhelmHow to stop procrastinationHow to accomplish goals when it feels like you don't have timeWhat to do when you don't feel...2021-01-1428 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhy Even Bother To Set GoalsWhat kinds of feelings does setting goals bring up for you? This year goals setting brought up anxiety and lack of motivation. I’ve felt a bit sluggish nailing myself down with one goal. I was feeling overwhelmed with all the goals I WANT to do but knowing I only have the capacity to do some. Choosing can be tough! And, as I look back on some of the past years, it can feel discouraging to think about goals I’ve set and never accomplished. But, I pulled myself together and applied some of the strategies and tools I’m teaching i...2021-01-0829 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Disagree Without Ruining Your RelationshipAs the holidays approach lots of us are experiencing more interactions with family and friends. With a global pandemic, a highly politically polarized environment in addition to the normal strains of life, disagreements are more frequent. While we might not agree--our disagreements don' t have to ruin our relationships.On this episode you'll learn:Why disagreements often lead to division in relationshipsHow to dislike what someone says without disliking themHow to stop viewing the other person as "wrong"How to share your opinion in a way that the other person is more likely to receive...2020-12-1627 min
The Expat Mom PodcastThe Gift of Mom GuiltMom guilt is an epidemic among women. We feel guilty because we can't meet our own and others expectations all the time. But, guilt can actually become a gift if we know how to use it in a helpful way. In this episode, we dive into a three step process about how to do this. On this episode you'll learn:A new definition of guiltThe three steps for using guilt in a useful wayWhy our brain loves to guilt usHow to get your own back when you make a decisionFree ClassHo...2020-12-0922 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Be the Person Everyone Loves at a PartyWith the holidays approaching there are often more parties and gatherings. Most of us have been in a social situation where we felt awkward. Turns out research shows that when we're feeling out of place at a party, we do things and see things in a way that makes us feel even more awkward than we already did. And....our awkwardness often makes others feel awkward. That's a whole lot of awkwardness going around! Awkwardness often comes from worrying about what other's will think, worrying we don't fit in, thinking others are boring etc. This week on the episode we dig...2020-12-0125 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhy Making an UN-GRATEFUL List Can Help You Be More GRATEFULIt may sound backwards, but making an un-grateful list can help you be more grateful. In fact scientists estimate that we can improve our happiness level by up to 25% simply by practicing regular gratitude. Gratitude is powerful, but our brains are sneaky. They like to add subtle caveats to our gratitude statements that undermine our happiness. It might sound like this; "I'm thankful for a healthy body." Then the brain adds, "but I'd be more thankful if I could lose a few pounds." This sneaky follow up thought dampens the joy we get from gratitude. But! There is a si...2020-11-2322 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to "Translate" Your Purpose as a Trailing SpouseWhen you move abroad, your grocery shopping looks different, the way you get from place to place looks different, and likely your "purpose" or the way you contribute to your community looks different. Emma Ball is a new expat mom. In this interview she discusses some of her journey moving abroad and navigating finding her purpose. She has a background in education, but found that she couldn't teach in Shanghai due to visa restrictions. She has a lot of wisdom to share about how she created purpose abroad. In this interview you'll hear:How...2020-11-1636 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhat to Do When Your Spouse Won't Do What You Want Them To DoWhether we realize it or not, most of us have a long list of “shoulds” for our spouses. Some common “shoulds” I hear include: they should clean up after themselves, they should listen and remember what I say, they should agree with me, and they shouldn’t criticize me. We attach these “shoulds” to how we feel about our spouse, and our own happiness. We think that if our spouses do what we think they should do, we will feel more love for them and we will feel happy. Many of these “shoulds” feel fair and reasonable. And, things sometimes w...2020-11-1123 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhere are you from?: How to help kids answer this question with confidenceThe question, “Where are you from?” is a common question. If you’re someone who has lived the same place your whole life, it’s a pretty straight forward answer. But for expat kids who don’t live in their home country, and have often lived in more than one additional country the answer is more complicated. When kids have a negative experience answering this question—either they don’t know what to say, or they say something and get a negative response, it can be easy for kids to start to feel weird or like they don’t fit in. It can begi...2020-11-0314 min
The Expat Mom PodcastWhat is Your Definition of a "Good Mom?"What I hear from a lot of moms, is that they just want to be a "good mom." We all do! But for some reason this goal is illusive. Rarely do I hear moms say they feel confidence they are amazing moms. Certainly there are some moms who aren't good--but the majority of moms I know of are trying their best. However, they compare themselves to an unrealistic standard of motherhood that is impossible to achieve...so they feeling like they are not enough in some way. In this episode, we talk about one simple thing you can do to inc...2020-10-2919 min
BRAIN BASEMENT009 - Finding Purpose as a Trailing Spouse with Jennie LintonIt's normal to wonder what your purpose as a trailing spouse is when bouncing from country to country every few years. In this episode Annalee interviews Jennie Linton, The Expat Mom Coach, on this very topic--finding purpose as a flailing *cough* I mean trailing spouse. They swap stories about figuring out who they are overseas & you won't want to miss Jennie's ideas for shifting to a more empowered mindset. Enjoy this validating & insightful conversation! Find more from Jennie at www.theexpatmom.com. 2020-10-2800 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow Your Failures Might Make You A Good MomThis week is the 9-year anniversary of my mom’s passing. As I’ve been reflecting on her life and influence, I’ve been thinking that one of the things that made her an amazing mom was her failure. Yes. You read it right. Her failure. She had SO many successes as well, but one of her perceived failures was one of the most helpful things to helping me become who I was meant to become. What you'll learn:*How our failures as moms can actually help our children*How to think differently about failure*How to u...2020-10-2321 min
The Expat Mom PodcastImprove Your Relationships by Owning Your WordsThe number one topic I coach on is relationships. Mother-child relationships, marriages, and difficult relationships with bosses, colleagues, friends and extended family members. Relationships are such a huge part of our emotional health. Today's topic has to do with communication in relationships; learning to say what we mean and mean what we say. We often think we are communicating clearly but we say one thing and mean another. This causes all sorts of confusion, resentment and frustration. There are a few simple changes we can make to communicate more clearly. What you'll learn on the show:Wh...2020-10-1719 min
The Expat Mom PodcastTurning Loneliness Into ConnectionLoneliness is an emotion, not a condition. Most expats experience loneliness; in fact estimates are that over 50% of people feel loneliness regularly. When we feel lonely we're less likely to reach out and connect with others, so loneliness begets MORE loneliness. As humans we need connection. There are some important mindset shifts that can help release us from the cycle of loneliness and allow us to create more connection in our lives. On this episode you'll learn:Why loneliness is a problemTake a simple test to gauge how lonely you areHow to remove the stigm...2020-10-0933 min
The Expat Mom PodcastStress Part 2: How to Stop Stressing About StressStress occurs when we feel like we don't have the ability or the resources to deal with demands in our lives. This can result in feelings overwhelm, exhaustion, frustration and discouragement. Sometimes it is true that we aren't able to deal with something. However, more often we ARE able to deal with it, we just THINK it's too hard because of how we see it. As we learn to see our problems and ourselves more accurately, we are able to stop stressing about stress and deal with the problem in a helpful way. What is one of your...2020-10-0126 min
The Expat Mom PodcastStress Part 1: The Power of Thinking Differently About StressStress. In our modern world stress can feel more like the norm than the exception. We often think of stress as a villain--something awful that robs us of our joy and peace. But modern research shows that actually stress can be beneficial. AND, even more importantly, the way we think ABOUT stress matters. When we see it as a problem it has all sorts of negative side effects. But when we see at as beneficial our biochemistry changes. The physical and emotions effects are profound. On this episode you'll learn:The negative physical and emotiona...2020-09-2824 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHandling Criticism WellShow Notes:No one likes criticism. It's something most of us would love to avoid if possible, but the truth is that most of us do experience criticism more often than we'd like to. Our natural reaction to criticism is usually to withdraw and feel resentful or embarrassed, or to be irritated and defend ourselves. Neither of these responses help our relationships or our confidence. Criticism can actually HELP your relationships and your confidence if you know how to think about it and respond. This podcast offers you two simple questions you can ask yourself when...2020-09-1727 min
The Expat Mom PodcastFinding Your Purpose Part 2Show Notes:Humans have a deep need for purpose. Purpose is what compels us and gives us the necessary motivation to do difficult things. In part 1 we talked about how purpose is decided not discovered. We uncovered 7 limiting beliefs that blind us to identifying and living our purpose. In this episode, I offer 4 simple steps to help you identify and begin taking action toward deciding on and creating your purpose. I give you lots of examples of how I and my clients have applied these principles. I’ll also offer some important ways to manage your mi...2020-09-1140 min
The Expat Mom PodcastFinding Your Purpose Part 1One of the most frequent requests for coaching I receive is about how to find purpose. As humans we crave purpose--it gives us direction, significance and belonging. However, I have discovered 7 limiting beliefs that often hold us back from recognizing and living our purpose. What you'll learn on the podcast:The difference between things that give us meaning in life, and a life missionHow to begin to recognize your purposeWhy purpose mattersWhy the idea of "finding" our purpose is inaccurate and unhelpfulHow we can have multiple purposes and why that's beneficialWhy purpose won't provide the...2020-09-0433 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Deal with Difficult EmotionsBecause we are human, we experience a wide range of emotions. Emotions are the brain’s way of communicating something to us. Most of us dislike our negative emotions and we try all sorts of ways to avoid feeling them. When we do this, our brain has to work harder to get the message through and this ends up causing new problems. Most of us aren’t really taught how to handle difficult emotions in a healthy way. We are usually taught to shove them down, or distract ourselves. But it’s important to learn how to actually feel and process...2020-08-2725 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Raise Resilient ChildrenResilience is the ability to deal with and bounce back from challenges and difficulties, and during this time of pandemic, global change, and uncertainty, our children need this skill more than ever. Studies show that a few common characteristics help expat kids—as well as other kids—be more resilient. Today I’ll cover the top four skills to help kids be more resilient. I’ll offer you some simple, practical examples and ideas to start cultivating these skills in your kids right now. What you’ll learn on this episode:What resilience is and why it matter...2020-08-2026 min
The Expat Mom PodcastHow to Thrive AnywhereWelcome to The Expat Mom Podcast! Expat moms are amazing. They navigate all the normal challenges of living and mothering while living abroad. Studies show these challenges often take a big toll on the emotional health of expats. This podcast offers some mindset shifts and practical tools for improving emotional health and thriving abroad. In this episode, I share one of my first break through moments in improving my emotional health as an expat mom when I discovered that blaming my children’s anxiety and suffering on frequent moving may have actually been unfounded. I was able to see h...2020-08-1930 min
The Expat Mom PodcastMoving: How to Feel More Peace While Navigating ChangeMoving and change are a hallmark of expat life. There are a lot of exciting things that accompany a move, but also some difficult emotions and stressors as well. Expat moms are often the emotional anchor point for the family while also being the lead logistics coordinator for closing out the old life and starting a new one. This is a huge job. Understanding what happens to the brain during a move, and how to navigate the difficult emotions that accompany a move can help you feel more peace and less overwhelm during the process. I shar...2020-08-1936 minThe Expat Mom PodcastPodcast TrailerWelcome to the Expat Mom Podcast! Who is this podcast for? This podcast is for expat moms who want to improve their emotional health. Why this podcast?Expat moms navigate the normal challenges of raising kids, cultivating their marriages, and managing their careers--all while juggling additional challenges of living abroad. Studies show that 50% of expats experience depression, anxiety rates are 2x higher, divorce rates are 50% higher and 40% of foreign assignments are broken due to unhappy trailing spouses. I get it. I have experienced culture shock, overwhelm, depression, anxiety...2020-07-3111 min