July 21, 2025 • 9 mins
Insights into the Challenges of Summer Travel for Globally Mobile Families
In this episode of the Globally Thriving Families Podcast, host Clare O'Byrne discusses the challenges international parents face during summer travel. Clare addresses executive function overload, regulatory and routine issues, sensory overload, loss of autonomy, and the impact of cultural and generational differences. She offers insights and acknowledges the complexities of traveling with children, and prepares listeners for upcoming strategies to better manage these challenges. Clare also invites listeners to connect with her on Instagram or her website, and to consider parent coaching through a free consultation call.
00:00 Introduction to Globally Thriving Families
01:03 Summer Short Series: Parenting on the Go
01:47 Challenges of Traveling with Kids
02:49 Executive Function Overload
04:30 Regulation, Routine, and Sensory Overload
05:56 Loss of Autonomy and Cultural Dynamics
07:18 Identity and Emotional Tension
08:20 Conclusion and Next Steps
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.
(00:05):
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
(00:28):
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.
(00:48):
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.
Clare (01:03):
Welcome back to Globally Thriving Families, and today we
are continuing with the SummerShort series, which is short
episodes to give youencouragement, insight, and
practical strategies forinternational parenting,
particularly over the schoolholiday.
Now, have you ever felt likeyour whole parenting rhythm gets
(01:23):
thrown out the window, themoment you're living out of a
suitcase?
You know, you're sleeping inother people's homes.
No one is getting to bed at areasonable time.
Your eating habits are all off.You can't find the sunscreen or
your hairbrush.
And if you're the parent, thenyou're probably the one holding
it all together.
Let's talk about what's going onwhen your summer feels kind of
(01:45):
scattered and all over theplace.
If you're a globally mobilefamily, then being able to
travel back to your home countryduring the school holidays, it's
a privilege.
It might not always be possible,but when it does happen, it's
great to reconnect with friendsand family.
It's also a great opportunityfor our kids to connect with
their heritage and experienceaspects of life that maybe they
(02:08):
don't experience during theschool year.
And the more relaxed schedulecan give us all a break from
those early alarm calls and justthe chaos of life during term
time.
Of course, alongside the goodtimes and the joy, there can
also be a hidden load that isreally worth acknowledging.
So for me personally, whilst Ilove visiting Canada or the UK
(02:31):
over the summer, I also find itquite challenging to live out of
a suitcase for weeks at a timeand all that comes with it.
And I've noticed that it'sgetting a little harder as each
year passes.
So why might some of us befeeling this way?
Let's explore some of the issuesthat might be happening.
So firstly, there's executivefunction overload.
(02:54):
So when we first moved to theMiddle East as a family, I
really looked forward totraveling over the summer.
The kids were very young atfirst, and we planned meetups
with friends who had kids thesame age and outings with
relatives, et cetera.
And we also signed them up forsummer camp so that they could
maintain some structure and trynew activities.
(03:14):
So it was all good stuff.
What I also remember about thattime, and what still happens to
an extent, is that schedulingall the different meetups and
activities just takes so muchcoordination.
I still print out a blankcalendar for the whole month,
and my husband and I write out alist of people that we're hoping
to connect with.
(03:35):
So we usually have three lists.
One is the mutual friends thatwe want to all see as a family,
and then he has some separatefriends of his own.
And then I have separate friendstoo, so we try and coordinate
around everyone's own vacationschedules too, because it's not
just us on vacation.
And did I mention that we movebetween two cities, which are
(03:55):
three hours apart when we're inCanada?.
Now I'm sharing this becausethis is one example of how the
executive function load canimpact our experiences of being
home.
Whilst on an individual basis.
I really love connecting withpeople, the overall mental
gymnastics of fitting in qualitytime and visits and play dates
(04:17):
and summer camps can just be abit too much sometimes.
Now, I'm thankful that my closefriends understand this and if
it doesn't work out one year,then we try and make it work for
the next year.
Then there's the issue ofregulation and routine.
So, often in the summer whenwe're away, kids particularly
(04:37):
lose the structure to their daythat they may have come to rely
on.
Their sleep might be disruptedby jet lag and late nights and
even extra snacking and loadsmore treats than they usually
have, and the loss of nap timesmaybe, and just being in a
different climate and then alsopacking in more activities than
usual in a single day to makethe most of the time.
(05:01):
Now being more relaxed aboutthese things can work to our
advantage, but they can alsolead to meltdowns and it isn't
just the kids.
All of these scenarios apply tous too.
And what goes hand in hand withregulation and routine is
sensory overload.
So if you've listened to theprevious episode, you'll know
that our environment reallyimpacts our sensory regulation.
(05:25):
So there's the different foodsthat we're eating, maybe
different smells that we'reexperiencing, even the feel of
the bedding on our skin, thetemperature inside or outside,
being hugged by multiplerelatives and expectations
around being friendly andwell-behaved can overload our
kids' sensory system or ours.
(05:46):
Even the visual clutter fromliterally living out of your
suitcase and not having a placeto put your things can
contribute to your sensory cupgetting overfilled.
And then next there is the lossof autonomy.
This might not apply toeverybody, but if your summer
involves staying at otherpeople's houses, then there are
added dynamics with that too.
(06:08):
Sometimes that can be so fun andexciting and really nice
spending time together in thoseincidental moments, like making
breakfast together in themornings or staying up late at
night.
But let's be real.
It can also be really hard,especially if it's people that
you are less familiar with.
We all need our own space fromtime to time, and particularly
(06:29):
if you're highly sensitive orneurodivergent, you might get
overstimulated or overwhelmedquicker than others.
So if that's you, I see you andI get it.
Many of us are parenting infamilies where multiple cultures
come together.
And that can also be a timewhere we have to navigate
different parenting approachesor expectations around
(06:50):
discipline or food orindependence, how we handle
emotions.
And that can add to the mentalload of managing our own
expectations and tension betweenour values and our actions.
Even if there isn't a culturaldifference, just the
generational differences can besomething we also have to
manage.
(07:11):
Now this is a very nuanced andlayered issue and definitely
something to expand on in afuture episode.
Adding to all those factors isthe undercurrent of thoughts and
feelings about our identity.
Where do you fit in now?
As each year passes, are youmore connected to the place you
used to call home or lessconnected?
(07:33):
Because we are not the samepeople that we were before we
left, and sometimes the place wevisit every year might never
have been home to begin with.
So who are we when we return tothis place?
Do you retreat to a teenagerversion of yourself and enjoy
slipping back into that role?
Or do you feel like you don'tquite belong?
(07:53):
Of course, there's no right orwrong to any of this.
We all have differentexperiences and circumstances
and dynamics.
I want you to know that if youare feeling some tension between
feeling happy and grateful andalso feeling like you're gonna
lose it at any minute, ittotally makes sense.
(08:14):
All of these factors at play arecontributing to that, and two
things can exist at the sametime.
So in the next episode, I'llshare some strategies for how
you can manage this suitcaselife so that it feels more
doable, and also to remind youto support yourself in the
process.
So for now, thanks so much forlistening and see you next time.
(08:38):
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
coaching and if it might beright for you, you can book free
(09:00):
20 minute call via the link inthe show notes, and we can have
a no pressure conversation justto 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
(00:28):
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.
(00:48):
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.
Clare (01:03):
Welcome back to Globally Thriving Families, and today we
are continuing with the SummerShort series, which is short
episodes to give youencouragement, insight, and
practical strategies forinternational parenting,
particularly over the schoolholiday.
Now, have you ever felt likeyour whole parenting rhythm gets
(01:23):
thrown out the window, themoment you're living out of a
suitcase?
You know, you're sleeping inother people's homes.
No one is getting to bed at areasonable time.
Your eating habits are all off.You can't find the sunscreen or
your hairbrush.
And if you're the parent, thenyou're probably the one holding
it all together.
Let's talk about what's going onwhen your summer feels kind of
(01:45):
scattered and all over theplace.
If you're a globally mobilefamily, then being able to
travel back to your home countryduring the school holidays, it's
a privilege.
It might not always be possible,but when it does happen, it's
great to reconnect with friendsand family.
It's also a great opportunityfor our kids to connect with
their heritage and experienceaspects of life that maybe they
(02:08):
don't experience during theschool year.
And the more relaxed schedulecan give us all a break from
those early alarm calls and justthe chaos of life during term
time.
Of course, alongside the goodtimes and the joy, there can
also be a hidden load that isreally worth acknowledging.
So for me personally, whilst Ilove visiting Canada or the UK
(02:31):
over the summer, I also find itquite challenging to live out of
a suitcase for weeks at a timeand all that comes with it.
And I've noticed that it'sgetting a little harder as each
year passes.
So why might some of us befeeling this way?
Let's explore some of the issuesthat might be happening.
So firstly, there's executivefunction overload.
(02:54):
So when we first moved to theMiddle East as a family, I
really looked forward totraveling over the summer.
The kids were very young atfirst, and we planned meetups
with friends who had kids thesame age and outings with
relatives, et cetera.
And we also signed them up forsummer camp so that they could
maintain some structure and trynew activities.
(03:14):
So it was all good stuff.
What I also remember about thattime, and what still happens to
an extent, is that schedulingall the different meetups and
activities just takes so muchcoordination.
I still print out a blankcalendar for the whole month,
and my husband and I write out alist of people that we're hoping
to connect with.
(03:35):
So we usually have three lists.
One is the mutual friends thatwe want to all see as a family,
and then he has some separatefriends of his own.
And then I have separate friendstoo, so we try and coordinate
around everyone's own vacationschedules too, because it's not
just us on vacation.
And did I mention that we movebetween two cities, which are
(03:55):
three hours apart when we're inCanada?.
Now I'm sharing this becausethis is one example of how the
executive function load canimpact our experiences of being
home.
Whilst on an individual basis.
I really love connecting withpeople, the overall mental
gymnastics of fitting in qualitytime and visits and play dates
(04:17):
and summer camps can just be abit too much sometimes.
Now, I'm thankful that my closefriends understand this and if
it doesn't work out one year,then we try and make it work for
the next year.
Then there's the issue ofregulation and routine.
So, often in the summer whenwe're away, kids particularly
(04:37):
lose the structure to their daythat they may have come to rely
on.
Their sleep might be disruptedby jet lag and late nights and
even extra snacking and loadsmore treats than they usually
have, and the loss of nap timesmaybe, and just being in a
different climate and then alsopacking in more activities than
usual in a single day to makethe most of the time.
(05:01):
Now being more relaxed aboutthese things can work to our
advantage, but they can alsolead to meltdowns and it isn't
just the kids.
All of these scenarios apply tous too.
And what goes hand in hand withregulation and routine is
sensory overload.
So if you've listened to theprevious episode, you'll know
that our environment reallyimpacts our sensory regulation.
(05:25):
So there's the different foodsthat we're eating, maybe
different smells that we'reexperiencing, even the feel of
the bedding on our skin, thetemperature inside or outside,
being hugged by multiplerelatives and expectations
around being friendly andwell-behaved can overload our
kids' sensory system or ours.
(05:46):
Even the visual clutter fromliterally living out of your
suitcase and not having a placeto put your things can
contribute to your sensory cupgetting overfilled.
And then next there is the lossof autonomy.
This might not apply toeverybody, but if your summer
involves staying at otherpeople's houses, then there are
added dynamics with that too.
(06:08):
Sometimes that can be so fun andexciting and really nice
spending time together in thoseincidental moments, like making
breakfast together in themornings or staying up late at
night.
But let's be real.
It can also be really hard,especially if it's people that
you are less familiar with.
We all need our own space fromtime to time, and particularly
(06:29):
if you're highly sensitive orneurodivergent, you might get
overstimulated or overwhelmedquicker than others.
So if that's you, I see you andI get it.
Many of us are parenting infamilies where multiple cultures
come together.
And that can also be a timewhere we have to navigate
different parenting approachesor expectations around
(06:50):
discipline or food orindependence, how we handle
emotions.
And that can add to the mentalload of managing our own
expectations and tension betweenour values and our actions.
Even if there isn't a culturaldifference, just the
generational differences can besomething we also have to
manage.
(07:11):
Now this is a very nuanced andlayered issue and definitely
something to expand on in afuture episode.
Adding to all those factors isthe undercurrent of thoughts and
feelings about our identity.
Where do you fit in now?
As each year passes, are youmore connected to the place you
used to call home or lessconnected?
(07:33):
Because we are not the samepeople that we were before we
left, and sometimes the place wevisit every year might never
have been home to begin with.
So who are we when we return tothis place?
Do you retreat to a teenagerversion of yourself and enjoy
slipping back into that role?
Or do you feel like you don'tquite belong?
(07:53):
Of course, there's no right orwrong to any of this.
We all have differentexperiences and circumstances
and dynamics.
I want you to know that if youare feeling some tension between
feeling happy and grateful andalso feeling like you're gonna
lose it at any minute, ittotally makes sense.
(08:14):
All of these factors at play arecontributing to that, and two
things can exist at the sametime.
So in the next episode, I'llshare some strategies for how
you can manage this suitcaselife so that it feels more
doable, and also to remind youto support yourself in the
process.
So for now, thanks so much forlistening and see you next time.
(08:38):
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
coaching and if it might beright for you, you can book free
(09:00):
20 minute call via the link inthe show notes, and we can have
a no pressure conversation justto find out more about it.
See you next time.
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