Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World

Posted by Dreamer

In her book on raising expat children abroad, Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World, Canadian Robin Pascoe hones in on issues specific to the expat family and their third culture kids, presenting the mobile family – and the mother in particular – with the keys to successfully and sensitively navigating the seas of expat parenthood.

Thankfully, Robin Pascoe has a sense of humor. Raising Global Nomads offers up plenty of well-written psychology and advice on topics unique to the mobile expat family such as culture shock, international schools, repatriation, etc. but I found the personal anecdotes that peppered the book the best reason to take her seriously. Her honest “been there, done that” approach paired with down-to-earth parenting advice and practical child psychology make for a good read. (Barbara F. Schaetti’s section on identity for global nomads contains some excellent information as well.)

Pascoe writes from her own experience as a stay-at-home mom and the wife of a diplomat, which makes for limited insight into other types of global nomad situations: working mothers, ‘one-way’ expat families, and those without generous expat packages, yet there is no question that Pascoe raises important issues any globe-trotting family should pay some serious attention to.

Hands down, Raising Global Nomads makes the grade for today’s mobile expat parents.

Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World by Robin Pascoe. Vancouver: Expatriate Press, 2006. 220 pages.
Buy the book in Europe or buy the book in North America.

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