June 23, 2025 • 16 mins
Navigating the Uncertainty of International Family Transitions
In this episode of the Globally Thriving Families Podcast, host Clare O'Byrne, a parent coach and occupational therapist, addresses the challenges faced by international families during periods of potential transitions. She delves into the emotional impact of living in limbo, how uncertainty affects both parents and children, and the concept of uncertainty tolerance from a neuroscience perspective. Clare offers practical tips for managing stress, staying grounded, and supporting children's emotional well-being during such times. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, maintaining routines, and fostering resilience in kids. Tune in for valuable insights and strategies to navigate these uncertain periods with confidence.
00:00 Introduction to Globally Thriving Families
01:09 Understanding the Uncertainty of International Living
02:53 The Emotional Impact of Uncertainty
07:35 Children and Uncertainty
09:48 Strategies for Managing Uncertainty
14:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Uncertainty Effect: How to Survive and Thrive Through the Unexpected, Michelle D. Lazarus, PhD
Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds, David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken
Connect with Clare: globally.thriving@gmail.com
Website: https://www.globallythriving.com
Connect with Clare on Instagram: http://instagram.com/globally_thriving
Book a free 20 minute call with Clare: https://tidycal.com/globallythriving/20-minute-meeting
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:06):
Are you a parent or caregiverraising your child
internationally?
Are you curious about how tonurture your child's
development?
But find all the parentinginformation out there confusing?
If so, you are in the rightplace.
Welcome to the Globally ThrivingFamilies Podcast.
I'm your host, Clare O'Byrne, aparent coach and occupational
(00:29):
therapist with a passion forsupporting children and their
families for more than 25 years.
Whether it's understanding howto build resilience to practical
tips for language development,screen time challenges, and
staying calm amongst the chaos,Globally Thriving Families is
here to help.
(00:49):
Join me as we explore the topicsthat give you the insights and
guidance you need to supportyour children to thrive.
No matter where your family'sadventures take you.
Hi there, and welcome to anotherepisode of Globally Thriving
Families.
Now, if you talk to anyinternational family, they would
(01:11):
probably be able to tell youwhat their plan A, B, or C might
be if their circumstances wereto change suddenly.
That's the kind of uncertaintythat many of us exist with in
the background.
So today we're gonna talk aboutsomething that I know many of
you will be able to relate to atsome point in your journey.
(01:32):
I'm talking specifically aboutthe period of time when as a
family there is a possibility ofa transition in the works, but
it's not completely certain.
That limbo period where you canfeel really unsettled and that
can really impact our familylife and relationships.
There are lots of differentscenarios where this could
(01:53):
happen.
So sometimes families know theyhave a set time period in a
place, and after that timethey'll move somewhere else,
which they may or may not have achoice about.
So there could be a stretch oftime where maybe two or three
new countries could be on thehorizon.
And then other families maybedon't have a specific time
(02:14):
period to be in a country, butthe open-endedness of that
balanced with other decisionslike responding to the needs of
aging parents or optimizingschooling decisions for the kids
means that the possibility ofchange is always there in the
back of your mind.
So if you can relate to any ofthese scenarios, keep listening
(02:36):
as we're going to explore what'sgoing on beneath the surface.
You'll gain some insights intowhy you're feeling this way, and
I'll talk about some ways youcan reframe and manage this
period of time to support yourkids and support your own
wellbeing, which is a priorityat this time.
Firstly, let's think aboutwhat's happening.
It's natural to feel unsettledbecause there's an emotional
(02:59):
weight to not knowing isn'tthere?
If your life in a particularcountry is centered around one
person's job, and if that jobchanges, it potentially means
that everything changes.
In many cases, changing jobsalso means changing cities or
countries, which means startingagain with new school, a new
(03:19):
home, a new life.
One minute you're going throughyour regular routine.
The next minute you're packingup, you're saying goodbye,
you're closing down a life whereyou currently are, and looking
towards setting up a new lifesomewhere else.
That's big.
And it's not just all thepractical logistics.
Having this in your mind canabsolutely impact your emotional
(03:41):
regulation and therefore yourparenting presence as a whole.
I am sure many of you can relateto having snapped at our kids or
our spouse because of otherthings that were weighing on our
mind.
Meanwhile, since nothing iscertain, you might also be
trying to carry on normally toeveryone around you, so your
friends, your coworkers, peopleat school, or extended family.
(04:06):
So it really makes sense that wefeel unsettled and anxious.
An interesting concept that Iread about, which is so relevant
for our international community,is uncertainty tolerance, which
is a term psychologists andresearchers talk about.
Essentially, it's howcomfortable we are with not
knowing and how we respond tothat.
(04:28):
Dr.
Michelle Lazarus in her book,The Uncertainty Effect describes
how our tolerance of uncertaintyis something that is both
innate, so it's in us naturallyand influenced by our unique
circumstances.
So family or work or culturalfactors amongst other things,
and it changes over time.
(04:48):
We all have a different level ofuncertainty tolerance.
So just an example of how itmight change over time is as our
kids get older, the implicationsfor changing schools or
education systems might begreater, and so our tolerance to
that uncertainty might be lowerthan when they were toddlers.
If you are a family that havebeen living overseas for a
(05:11):
while, you may have experiencedthis limbo a few times, and I
wonder if the way you felt aboutit was different each time?
Maybe you and your spouse alsohave a different level of
uncertainty, tolerance, and thatcan add to the discomfort that
you feel.
You know, sometimes we as adultscan inadvertently discourage
each other from expressing ourfears about possible transitions
(05:35):
and, and that could cause usinstead to feel the need to put
on a brave face, be positive andupbeat, and maybe there's some
shame in there too, for feelinga certain way.
At these times.
We can often start to neglectsome of the routines and habits
that are actually the mostbeneficial for us, like getting
(05:56):
outside and regular movement,eating well, and just looking
after ourselves.
When we are stressed or there'ssomething weighing heavily on
our mind, we do often end upskipping the walk, the workout,
the get together with friends,forgetting to drink water.
And that actually can make usmore dysregulated as a result.
(06:17):
Let's think about theneuroscience of what is
happening.
So our brain is always trying toprotect us, and if it detects a
possible threat, which in thiscase is the uncertainty of a
possible change, it activatesthe amygdala, which is the part
of the brain that processes fearand triggers a fight or flight
(06:38):
or freeze response.
It has other roles too, butthat's, this is just one of
them.
The amygdala sends a signal thatprioritizes survival over
anything else.
And then there's also theprefrontal cortex, which is the
part of the brain that operates.
the executive function system,which I've mentioned in previous
episodes.
So that's the area of the brainthat helps us use our reasoning
(07:02):
skills to think logically, stickto those habits, manage our
schedule and prioritize, andreally importantly, to regulate
our emotions.
So under this stress, ouramygdala kind of overtakes this
area, which then it reduces ourability to regulate our emotions
and to make those thoughtfuldecisions, or even take care of
(07:23):
ourselves beyond the automaticthings that we do.
So anything that requiresplanning or effort or discipline
or problem solving can actuallyfeel so much harder in that
time.
Now, our kids can sense theuncertainty too.
If the possible change is stillat an early phase, you may not
have shared yet with yourchildren, but they might already
(07:45):
have a sense that something isup.
Our kids are watching andabsorbing everything that we say
and do.
Depending on the developmentalstage a child's at, you might
decide to wait until you knowfor sure, or they might be ready
for you to acknowledge that apossible change is coming.
Whatever you decide, you don'tneed to over promise for
reassurance.
(08:06):
You can stick to the facts, i.e.
'we don't know yet what'shappening' and you can be
honest.
'We're still figuring it out,and as soon as we know, we'll
tell you' In the book ThirdCulture Kids, the author David
Pollock and Ruth Van Reken talkabout the unresolved grief that
third culture kids experiencethroughout their international
(08:27):
life.
So they describe several hiddenlosses that come with these
transitions.
And now whilst today I am onlytalking specifically about this
limbo period where thetransition hasn't even happened
yet.
it's still helpful toacknowledge these hidden losses
as part of the feelings aroundit arise because of what we are
anticipating.
(08:48):
We anticipate these losses andwe start to grieve them even
before they've happened.
Some of these hidden losses thatthey talk about are the fact
that with one plane ride, ourkids could be losing several
things at the same time.
The tangible things likepossessions, routines, and their
lifestyle, but also friendshipsand identity and their sense of
(09:11):
belonging.
These are just a few of them.
Our kids don't need us to haveall the answers in a time of
uncertainty.
They don't even really need usto be overly breezy.
They need us to be present andfor us to take care of
ourselves.
Navigating this limbo periodwill be a learning experience
(09:32):
for all of us, whether it's yourfirst time or the fifth time,
it's a muscle that we'rebuilding in ourselves and for
them, and as Dr.
Michelle Lazarus suggests, it'san essential life skill to be
able to move through this periodof time.
So how can we help ourselves andour kids stay grounded?
Firstly, validate their feelingswithout feeling the need to
(09:56):
change them.
You can normalize that yes, itmakes sense that you might feel
sad or worried or excited, or amixture depending on what they
identify, but they may not havewords for their feelings as yet.
If they aren't verbalizing howthey feel, you may see it come
out in other ways such as theirbehaviors or their emotions that
(10:19):
might be close to the surface.
Tuning into your child to bethat detective, which is
something I've mentioned before,is really valuable.
When we support our kids throughthese kinds of uncertain times
without trying to fixeverything, this is where they
are learning to developresilience.
Secondly, focus on what iscertain for the time being.
(10:41):
So for our kids, school,friendships, activities and
routines, keeping thatconsistency helps ground them in
normality, and it keeps thoseessential connections between
others.
And including other anchors,like maybe Friday night or
weekend routines with theemphasis on connection and fun
(11:02):
could really help too.
And actually that's really wherethe resilience comes from.
You know, there is uncertaintyand if you have an openness to
letting them feel theirfeelings.
Let them ask questions and trynot to dismiss their worries
then they're learning thatthey're capable of getting
through uncertainty as well.
(11:23):
Thirdly, anchoring yourself as aparent.
It is hard.
I know.
We've all heard advice that ifwe want our kids to remain calm,
then we have to as well, andit's easier said than done, but
for a minute, forget what youthink is expected of you.
No one has it all together.
We are not robots.
(11:44):
We are not superhuman.
We are messy.
Uncertainty can bring about thistension and we might act
differently with others.
We might start micromanagingtheir life or our life.
We might go frantically intoresearch mode, even the
slightest mention of a change ora new opportunity, and within 30
(12:05):
minutes you may have scoped outthe schools in the area.
But that's not a bad thing.
That's just taking action, whichmight feel right in the moment
because you wanna have somecontrol in a situation where
there isn't a lot of control.
If you can sit in silence forjust 10 minutes and close your
eyes and tune in.
Are you feeling any tension inyour body?
(12:26):
Where is it?
You know, sometimes we feelstress and tension in our throat
or our neck or our shoulders,our chest, or our stomach.
So move through the body likethat and just notice what comes
up.
Ask yourself what you need tofeel more grounded.
'cause this will help you thinkmore clearly and have more
clarity when the time comes toactually make some decisions.
(12:50):
It also affects how you interactwith your spouse and your kids.
If you can, talk it over with atrusted friend or a coach if you
have one.
And as always, I'm going tosuggest doing heavy work or
proprioception, because that's agreat way to support our nervous
system regulation.
So that could be with exercise,with weights, with doing pushups
(13:14):
against the wall, with givingsomebody a tight squeezy hug.
There's loads of things.
And then fourthly.
Let's think about acceptance.
If the stress around theuncertainty has affected your
habits and routines, it's allright.
You've just gotta get throughthis season.
You'll come out of it the otherside, and those habits will
(13:36):
still be there when you do.
The good news is that even smallactions or micro habits can
signal to the brain that you'resafe.
So choose one thing at a time.
Maybe stretch on the floor inthe morning or before bed.
Call a friend and share what'son your mind.
Write down your biggest worry ona sticky note.
(13:56):
Give yourself permission tocancel plans.
Stay in the shower an extra fewminutes.
Drop your shoulders.
Rewatch a movie or a TV showthat you know you will laugh at.
These are just some small thingsyou can do to help you along the
way.
It doesn't have to be all ornothing.
So let's just summarize.
(14:17):
When a move or a change might beon the horizon, but nothing is
confirmed, it can really feellike you're living in limbo.
This kind of uncertainty isn'tjust all about the planning and
the logistics.
It's challenging our uncertaintytolerance.
From a neuroscience perspective,our brain is wired to try to
(14:38):
keep us safe.
So this uncertainty can activatethe alarm system in the brain,
and that's why we feel stressedand overwhelmed, and we might
not be able to keep up with theroutines that draw on our
executive function skills.
Our kids can feel it too becausethey pick up on our energy and
our tone and our body language.
(14:59):
We might see this through theirbehavior and their responses and
their reactions, but luckily wedon't have to have all the
answers to support them orourselves.
If we can take a few moments totune into our nervous system by
slowing down a little, focusingon micro habits that honor what
we need, whether it's movementor fresh air, nourishment or
(15:21):
connection, then we can helpexpand our own uncertainty
tolerance so that we can helpour kids.
And if you are in this limboright now, I am thinking of you
and I know you are capable ofnavigating it.
You have probably navigated manyof these unknowns already, so
you know that clarity will be onthe other side of it.
(15:44):
Keep going and thanks so muchfor listening.
If anything in this episodesparked something for you, I'd
love to hear about it.
You can find me on Instagram atglobally_thriving, or you can
reach out to me on my website.
Globally thriving.com Also, ifyou are curious about parent
(16:06):
coaching and if it might beright for you, you can book a
free 20 minute call via the linkin the show notes, and we can
have a no pressure conversationjust to find out more about it.
See you next time.
Are you a parent or caregiverraising your child
internationally?
Are you curious about how tonurture your child's
development?
But find all the parentinginformation out there confusing?
If so, you are in the rightplace.
Welcome to the Globally ThrivingFamilies Podcast.
I'm your host, Clare O'Byrne, aparent coach and occupational
(00:29):
therapist with a passion forsupporting children and their
families for more than 25 years.
Whether it's understanding howto build resilience to practical
tips for language development,screen time challenges, and
staying calm amongst the chaos,Globally Thriving Families is
here to help.
(00:49):
Join me as we explore the topicsthat give you the insights and
guidance you need to supportyour children to thrive.
No matter where your family'sadventures take you.
Hi there, and welcome to anotherepisode of Globally Thriving
Families.
Now, if you talk to anyinternational family, they would
(01:11):
probably be able to tell youwhat their plan A, B, or C might
be if their circumstances wereto change suddenly.
That's the kind of uncertaintythat many of us exist with in
the background.
So today we're gonna talk aboutsomething that I know many of
you will be able to relate to atsome point in your journey.
(01:32):
I'm talking specifically aboutthe period of time when as a
family there is a possibility ofa transition in the works, but
it's not completely certain.
That limbo period where you canfeel really unsettled and that
can really impact our familylife and relationships.
There are lots of differentscenarios where this could
(01:53):
happen.
So sometimes families know theyhave a set time period in a
place, and after that timethey'll move somewhere else,
which they may or may not have achoice about.
So there could be a stretch oftime where maybe two or three
new countries could be on thehorizon.
And then other families maybedon't have a specific time
(02:14):
period to be in a country, butthe open-endedness of that
balanced with other decisionslike responding to the needs of
aging parents or optimizingschooling decisions for the kids
means that the possibility ofchange is always there in the
back of your mind.
So if you can relate to any ofthese scenarios, keep listening
(02:36):
as we're going to explore what'sgoing on beneath the surface.
You'll gain some insights intowhy you're feeling this way, and
I'll talk about some ways youcan reframe and manage this
period of time to support yourkids and support your own
wellbeing, which is a priorityat this time.
Firstly, let's think aboutwhat's happening.
It's natural to feel unsettledbecause there's an emotional
(02:59):
weight to not knowing isn'tthere?
If your life in a particularcountry is centered around one
person's job, and if that jobchanges, it potentially means
that everything changes.
In many cases, changing jobsalso means changing cities or
countries, which means startingagain with new school, a new
(03:19):
home, a new life.
One minute you're going throughyour regular routine.
The next minute you're packingup, you're saying goodbye,
you're closing down a life whereyou currently are, and looking
towards setting up a new lifesomewhere else.
That's big.
And it's not just all thepractical logistics.
Having this in your mind canabsolutely impact your emotional
(03:41):
regulation and therefore yourparenting presence as a whole.
I am sure many of you can relateto having snapped at our kids or
our spouse because of otherthings that were weighing on our
mind.
Meanwhile, since nothing iscertain, you might also be
trying to carry on normally toeveryone around you, so your
friends, your coworkers, peopleat school, or extended family.
(04:06):
So it really makes sense that wefeel unsettled and anxious.
An interesting concept that Iread about, which is so relevant
for our international community,is uncertainty tolerance, which
is a term psychologists andresearchers talk about.
Essentially, it's howcomfortable we are with not
knowing and how we respond tothat.
(04:28):
Dr.
Michelle Lazarus in her book,The Uncertainty Effect describes
how our tolerance of uncertaintyis something that is both
innate, so it's in us naturallyand influenced by our unique
circumstances.
So family or work or culturalfactors amongst other things,
and it changes over time.
(04:48):
We all have a different level ofuncertainty tolerance.
So just an example of how itmight change over time is as our
kids get older, the implicationsfor changing schools or
education systems might begreater, and so our tolerance to
that uncertainty might be lowerthan when they were toddlers.
If you are a family that havebeen living overseas for a
(05:11):
while, you may have experiencedthis limbo a few times, and I
wonder if the way you felt aboutit was different each time?
Maybe you and your spouse alsohave a different level of
uncertainty, tolerance, and thatcan add to the discomfort that
you feel.
You know, sometimes we as adultscan inadvertently discourage
each other from expressing ourfears about possible transitions
(05:35):
and, and that could cause usinstead to feel the need to put
on a brave face, be positive andupbeat, and maybe there's some
shame in there too, for feelinga certain way.
At these times.
We can often start to neglectsome of the routines and habits
that are actually the mostbeneficial for us, like getting
(05:56):
outside and regular movement,eating well, and just looking
after ourselves.
When we are stressed or there'ssomething weighing heavily on
our mind, we do often end upskipping the walk, the workout,
the get together with friends,forgetting to drink water.
And that actually can make usmore dysregulated as a result.
(06:17):
Let's think about theneuroscience of what is
happening.
So our brain is always trying toprotect us, and if it detects a
possible threat, which in thiscase is the uncertainty of a
possible change, it activatesthe amygdala, which is the part
of the brain that processes fearand triggers a fight or flight
(06:38):
or freeze response.
It has other roles too, butthat's, this is just one of
them.
The amygdala sends a signal thatprioritizes survival over
anything else.
And then there's also theprefrontal cortex, which is the
part of the brain that operates.
the executive function system,which I've mentioned in previous
episodes.
So that's the area of the brainthat helps us use our reasoning
(07:02):
skills to think logically, stickto those habits, manage our
schedule and prioritize, andreally importantly, to regulate
our emotions.
So under this stress, ouramygdala kind of overtakes this
area, which then it reduces ourability to regulate our emotions
and to make those thoughtfuldecisions, or even take care of
(07:23):
ourselves beyond the automaticthings that we do.
So anything that requiresplanning or effort or discipline
or problem solving can actuallyfeel so much harder in that
time.
Now, our kids can sense theuncertainty too.
If the possible change is stillat an early phase, you may not
have shared yet with yourchildren, but they might already
(07:45):
have a sense that something isup.
Our kids are watching andabsorbing everything that we say
and do.
Depending on the developmentalstage a child's at, you might
decide to wait until you knowfor sure, or they might be ready
for you to acknowledge that apossible change is coming.
Whatever you decide, you don'tneed to over promise for
reassurance.
(08:06):
You can stick to the facts, i.e.
'we don't know yet what'shappening' and you can be
honest.
'We're still figuring it out,and as soon as we know, we'll
tell you' In the book ThirdCulture Kids, the author David
Pollock and Ruth Van Reken talkabout the unresolved grief that
third culture kids experiencethroughout their international
(08:27):
life.
So they describe several hiddenlosses that come with these
transitions.
And now whilst today I am onlytalking specifically about this
limbo period where thetransition hasn't even happened
yet.
it's still helpful toacknowledge these hidden losses
as part of the feelings aroundit arise because of what we are
anticipating.
(08:48):
We anticipate these losses andwe start to grieve them even
before they've happened.
Some of these hidden losses thatthey talk about are the fact
that with one plane ride, ourkids could be losing several
things at the same time.
The tangible things likepossessions, routines, and their
lifestyle, but also friendshipsand identity and their sense of
(09:11):
belonging.
These are just a few of them.
Our kids don't need us to haveall the answers in a time of
uncertainty.
They don't even really need usto be overly breezy.
They need us to be present andfor us to take care of
ourselves.
Navigating this limbo periodwill be a learning experience
(09:32):
for all of us, whether it's yourfirst time or the fifth time,
it's a muscle that we'rebuilding in ourselves and for
them, and as Dr.
Michelle Lazarus suggests, it'san essential life skill to be
able to move through this periodof time.
So how can we help ourselves andour kids stay grounded?
Firstly, validate their feelingswithout feeling the need to
(09:56):
change them.
You can normalize that yes, itmakes sense that you might feel
sad or worried or excited, or amixture depending on what they
identify, but they may not havewords for their feelings as yet.
If they aren't verbalizing howthey feel, you may see it come
out in other ways such as theirbehaviors or their emotions that
(10:19):
might be close to the surface.
Tuning into your child to bethat detective, which is
something I've mentioned before,is really valuable.
When we support our kids throughthese kinds of uncertain times
without trying to fixeverything, this is where they
are learning to developresilience.
Secondly, focus on what iscertain for the time being.
(10:41):
So for our kids, school,friendships, activities and
routines, keeping thatconsistency helps ground them in
normality, and it keeps thoseessential connections between
others.
And including other anchors,like maybe Friday night or
weekend routines with theemphasis on connection and fun
(11:02):
could really help too.
And actually that's really wherethe resilience comes from.
You know, there is uncertaintyand if you have an openness to
letting them feel theirfeelings.
Let them ask questions and trynot to dismiss their worries
then they're learning thatthey're capable of getting
through uncertainty as well.
(11:23):
Thirdly, anchoring yourself as aparent.
It is hard.
I know.
We've all heard advice that ifwe want our kids to remain calm,
then we have to as well, andit's easier said than done, but
for a minute, forget what youthink is expected of you.
No one has it all together.
We are not robots.
(11:44):
We are not superhuman.
We are messy.
Uncertainty can bring about thistension and we might act
differently with others.
We might start micromanagingtheir life or our life.
We might go frantically intoresearch mode, even the
slightest mention of a change ora new opportunity, and within 30
(12:05):
minutes you may have scoped outthe schools in the area.
But that's not a bad thing.
That's just taking action, whichmight feel right in the moment
because you wanna have somecontrol in a situation where
there isn't a lot of control.
If you can sit in silence forjust 10 minutes and close your
eyes and tune in.
Are you feeling any tension inyour body?
(12:26):
Where is it?
You know, sometimes we feelstress and tension in our throat
or our neck or our shoulders,our chest, or our stomach.
So move through the body likethat and just notice what comes
up.
Ask yourself what you need tofeel more grounded.
'cause this will help you thinkmore clearly and have more
clarity when the time comes toactually make some decisions.
(12:50):
It also affects how you interactwith your spouse and your kids.
If you can, talk it over with atrusted friend or a coach if you
have one.
And as always, I'm going tosuggest doing heavy work or
proprioception, because that's agreat way to support our nervous
system regulation.
So that could be with exercise,with weights, with doing pushups
(13:14):
against the wall, with givingsomebody a tight squeezy hug.
There's loads of things.
And then fourthly.
Let's think about acceptance.
If the stress around theuncertainty has affected your
habits and routines, it's allright.
You've just gotta get throughthis season.
You'll come out of it the otherside, and those habits will
(13:36):
still be there when you do.
The good news is that even smallactions or micro habits can
signal to the brain that you'resafe.
So choose one thing at a time.
Maybe stretch on the floor inthe morning or before bed.
Call a friend and share what'son your mind.
Write down your biggest worry ona sticky note.
(13:56):
Give yourself permission tocancel plans.
Stay in the shower an extra fewminutes.
Drop your shoulders.
Rewatch a movie or a TV showthat you know you will laugh at.
These are just some small thingsyou can do to help you along the
way.
It doesn't have to be all ornothing.
So let's just summarize.
(14:17):
When a move or a change might beon the horizon, but nothing is
confirmed, it can really feellike you're living in limbo.
This kind of uncertainty isn'tjust all about the planning and
the logistics.
It's challenging our uncertaintytolerance.
From a neuroscience perspective,our brain is wired to try to
(14:38):
keep us safe.
So this uncertainty can activatethe alarm system in the brain,
and that's why we feel stressedand overwhelmed, and we might
not be able to keep up with theroutines that draw on our
executive function skills.
Our kids can feel it too becausethey pick up on our energy and
our tone and our body language.
(14:59):
We might see this through theirbehavior and their responses and
their reactions, but luckily wedon't have to have all the
answers to support them orourselves.
If we can take a few moments totune into our nervous system by
slowing down a little, focusingon micro habits that honor what
we need, whether it's movementor fresh air, nourishment or
(15:21):
connection, then we can helpexpand our own uncertainty
tolerance so that we can helpour kids.
And if you are in this limboright now, I am thinking of you
and I know you are capable ofnavigating it.
You have probably navigated manyof these unknowns already, so
you know that clarity will be onthe other side of it.
(15:44):
Keep going and thanks so muchfor listening.
If anything in this episodesparked something for you, I'd
love to hear about it.
You can find me on Instagram atglobally_thriving, or you can
reach out to me on my website.
Globally thriving.com Also, ifyou are curious about parent
(16:06):
coaching and if it might beright for you, you can book a
free 20 minute call via the linkin the show notes, and we can
have a no pressure conversationjust to find out more about it.
See you next time.
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