Being in an international relationship does not only affect the couple but the whole family. Kelly Pacheco, expat and family therapist from Aarhus, gives some insights on expat children‌
o Roles and responsibilities change, for example, the spouse may become a stay at home parent while the other becomes the sole income earner. The well-being of couple and family relationships has been well documented as having a key role in the success of international assignments. The inability of the family to adjust is the second most cited reason for international assignment failure. Expat life carries with it some
o Possible financial strain if you were previously a dual career family. o The normal family life cycle can be disrupted, for example teens attempts to become more independent from the family can be stalled.
inherent challenges that can be difficult for couples and families to overcome. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by Some of the common difficulties include: o A feeling of isolation, loss of social and family support networks. o Dislocation - your usual way of life is changed and it is difficult to continue as normal.
these difficulties, but these times of struggle actually offer a great opportunity to find new resources within each other and to develop new patterns of interaction to strengthen relationships and develop resilience to tackle future significant life events together.