TCK Care

“I wasn’t aware that I was a chameleon until it started hurting.” For someone who has spent his whole life adapting, Nelson has developed profound insight into how he uses his adaptation as a relational skill. Nelson speaks to the importance of self-awareness for maintaining well-being and shares his own journey of increasing awareness and identity.

TCK Linda Kelley shares the story of losing an orphan in Papua New Guinea. She shares the beauty of her childhood and her aptitude for languages as well as the deep sadness of feeling alone in her experiences. She shares how her relationship with Jesus has facilitated healing and continued insight into her experience. She gives timeless advice to families to promote an atmosphere of vulnerability and transparency, sticking together through fear and pain.

What is a transition seminar, and who benefits from one? Joining me on the show are three people who care deeply for TCK’s and are invested in helping TCK’s make a smooth cultural transition from living overseas to living in North America. We cover what a transition seminar is, what TCK’s can expect to take away from this experience, and of course, share a lot of personal anecdotes along the way.

“The healthiest people make the healthiest parents” says TCK and LPC Risa Hobson (cool credentials, right?). She goes on to share advice for families starting out on their international journeys as well as examples of how to navigate transitions well.

Anastasia shares a struggle that may resonate with many TCK’s — feeling empathy for people and yet being separated from them by the barriers of race, socioeconomic status, politics, or whatever the case may be. And on the other end, perfectly blending in to a group of people that internally you feel disconnected from. Anastasia talks about where her struggle comes from, and gives encouragement to others who may also be in the process of deconstructing the life they thought they knew.

While listening to Beth tell her story, I was shocked to hear that her family experienced two consecutive evacuations in a short span of time. Evacuations are not uncommon to many a TCK, so we delved into what that experience meant for her, what it was like in the moment, and how she has healed and grown since then.

As former missionaries and parents of four TCK’s with experience serving overseas as well as in missions administration, my parents come on the show to talk about how they advocated for their family as they raised their children overseas. I get to explore some of my own story as we discuss the challenges that faced our family, and the things TCK parents have done to support their children.

David Johnson shares his perspective of VIP syndrome — of both feeling uncomfortable in your own skin and having a unique perspective of your surroundings inspired by broadened horizons. A lively sense of humor and a lot of insight make this a particularly fun episode.

Waciwi calls it like it is. She shares her story with courageous transparency and honesty and challenges the culture and religion that shaped her developmental years. She speaks with passion and vulnerability on religion, politics, and sexuality, making a powerful and emotional interview.