TCK CHALLENGES
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Frequent moving (continents, countries, cities, schools)
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Making and losing friends
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Settling down
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Adaptation
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Feeling of loss (friends, extended family, culture, countries, and food...)
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Feeling of grief (no or bad good-byes...)
The official definition of a Third Culture Kid (TCK) by David C. Pollok is:
"A person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of the same background."
This lifestyle has its own advantages and disadvantages, and they are unique to TCK´s. Very often the effects of years of being abroad manifest themselves in the teenage years when emotions get more complicated and hormones confuse everybody, the teen as well as the parents.
It is important to understand that our TCK kids and teens are not alone, that there are thousands of them on this beautiful earth in almost every country. Not all of these children experience the TCK world in the same way, some breeze through it, others struggle at some point in their lives.
Having done different certifications regarding the TCK lifestyle, been a TCK mom, worked as a life coach for teen girls and boys and young adults for the last three years, I get it. I would love to help your daughter appreciate her unique lifestyle!