Today, we have our third strategy to persevere through Culture Shock. A strong reminder that our children go through the stages right along side of us. The stages of ACCULTURATION are inevitable. Drum up all the courage and resilience afforded to you and focus on the well-being of your children.
Nurture Your Relationship with Your Children.
Your commitment to their health, education, and spiritual well-being is vital. In your first year on the field, time with your children must be a priority. Keep your eyes open for signs of culture shock even in the youngest of children, and get the whole family out of the house every day. Enough cannot be said for making this daily outing in spite of your intense desire to stay safely inside your apartment.
Some children are not too shy to say, “No more people, Mommy. Please don’t answer the door. No more people.” But others don’t know how to express their needs to you. They silently suffer, knowing that they should be as good as possible to help the family be successful on the field. They will be good “angels” and go quietly to their rooms. Don’t assume they are handling everything as well as they appear to be. Give them a place and time to routinely talk to you about their feelings. This is one way to communicate your committed love for them.
