Synopsis:

Growing up as the child of a minister and a father who was also actively involved in cross-cultural work, had a profound impact on Michael. His father's frequent travels for youth ministry, pastoral duties, and later, more global roles in raising awareness about Third Culture Kids, created a complex dynamic in their family life. While there was a sense of pride and recognition in the meaningful work his father did, it also brought challenges. Michael reflects on the mixed emotions of having to "share" his father with others, often feeling that it wasn't a choice but a necessity. This experience shaped Michael's perspective, giving him an appreciation for the importance of his father's work while also highlighting the personal cost of his absence during key moments of his upbringing.

This insightful podcast highlights the complexities of mobile family dynamics and the importance of attachment theory in understanding the experiences of TCKs.

Key takeaways: 

• The child has a limited say in how often the parent travels 
• The memories that stand out are times spent together
• Travel is a whole family project and is supported by the whole family
• The importance of knowing about attachment
• The importance of knowing what creates healthy strong attachments when there are separations
• The importance of community around global families. “The anchor relationships are the ones that over time, they're not going to change. They're people who love you, love your family, and nothing's going to change that.”

Acronyms used in this episode 

HSP Highly Sensitive Person

PK Pastor’s kids

MK Missionary Kids

Book mentioned in the episode:

‘I have to be perfect and other holy heresies’

Contact Michael:

LinkedIn

Website  

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