Here in the United States, we are celebrating Mother’s Day. The holiday reminds me of the Mother’s Days I missed when we lived internationally.
When we made the life-altering decision to move halfway around the world, our families were understandably concerned about how often they would see us. Both mothers voiced their deepest fear in a moment of shared vulnerability: “I’m afraid I’ll never see you again.” (Little did they know that spending two weeks every summer with them was more than enough for them!)
While we never regretted our international journey, some things would not be the same. Our move was before cell phones, social media, and without affordable, reliable, long-distance telephone service. Sure, we sent photos and letters with news about our lives and adventures, but the folks back home missed the wonder of our daughter losing her first tooth, the excitement of a dance recital, and the joy as she learned a new language. Our daughter missed out on the hugs, the laughter, and the exuberance of her U.S.A. family in sharing her milestones.
We shared these moments with our expatriate and local families, as they did with us. It would have been very lonely if we had not developed a community with our international families.
Much has changed since we returned to the U.S.A. Thanks to technology, we keep in touch with our expatriate families, who are now scattered around the globe, through Zoom and other platforms. Our daughter has lasting friendships going back to kindergarten. She fits in the term ‘Third Culture Kid,’ and we consider her an international citizen. I’m glad she found a home in the U.S. while her heart has no geographical boundaries.
Do you share a similar story? I’d love to hear about it. Let’s connect!
Email me at judycanLPC@gmail.com
