The Big Purple Blob PODCAST

Exploring the challenges of working as TANDEM partners.   How can we acknowledge the disappointment and overwhelm using the Name It to Tame It process.    

++++++++++++  Back to School!  ++++++++++ Sharoya and Katie will share three vital routines to support your child's success in school this year!   Sharoya Ham, M.Ed. Parent Coach at Embrace Behavioral Change:  https://www. embracebehaviorchange.com/   Katie Fowle, M. Ed, Reading Teacher at  Learning to Flourish 

Learn more at: www.learningtoflourish.org   It can be hard to for younger students to gain consistancy when kids change teachers each year.  Katie Fowle is here to HELP.  

Family Attorney Lucia Levias shares some REAL WISDOM and important information for anyone who may consider divorce from a partner while one or both of you is living overseas.   The Big Purple Blob is here to serve you.  Tell us which topics you'd like us to feature at www.thebigpurpleblob.com   To work with Jennie directly and uplevel your emotional wellbeing: www.theexpatmom.com    

What happens when a TCK stops moving around the world?  How can TCKs follow their deep interests and pursue goals if they're continually changing locations? Angie Collins & Katie Fowle discuss their experience as parents raising kids who have defined themselves as Third Culture Kids for years....and then transition into living in their home country.   Angie Collins--Find out more at http:www/paren...

Interview with EFM and Award Winning Children's Book Author & Mental Health Advocate Jamie Edelbrock:  How to help TCKs develop self confidence Connect with Jennie: https://www.theexpatmom.com/ Find more on Jamie:  https://www.jamieedelbrock.com/

Join Susie and Angie for a discussion on how to manage the world of sports with frequent moves and limited choices.  Figure out the best way to keep your kids on track beyond Primary school.   To work with Susie: www.healthyexpatparent.com To work with Angie: www.parentcoachangie.com    

Summer visits, sharing holidays together...moving into your brother's guest room for 6 weeks....it's not always easy.  Find out how we deal with family disputes.  Sharoya, Susie and Angi have found some smart ways to mitigate the upsets. To work with SHAROYA:  www.embracebehaviorchange.com To work with SUSIE: www.healthyexpatparent.com To work with ANGI: www.teenlines.com

Is your co-parenting relationship not going well?  If so, perhaps parallel parenting might be a better fit.  In this episode, Susie and Sharoya define and differentiate these two styles of parenting partnerships.  They provide helpful tips on how to navigate a tense relationship between estranged parents.    Find Susie at HealthyExpatParent.com Find  Sharoya at EmbraceBehaviorChange.com  

Finding Meaning and Purpose as an accompanying male spouse.      Luke Beer discusses the opportunities and challenges of being an accompanying male spouse and the opportunities he's found to find purpose and community as a member of Rotary International.   https://www.rotary.org/en   Podcast correction  - Luke is President of the Rotary Club of Dupont Circle.   To work with Katie:  www.learningtof...

Let's address the acceptance and the challenges of raising LGBTQIA kids in different cultures around the globe.  How can we best support our kids and their individuality when the outside world won't always be accepting? Share your ideas, input, suggestions and thoughts with us at www.thebigpurpleblob.com or email us at thebigpurpleblob@gmail.com   We want to hear from YOU!

This month we discuss living LGBTQAI in overseas diplomatic life.     Thanks for joining us here.  Send us your ideas and input to: www.thebigpurpleblob.com    

Susie, Jennie and Angi discuss the hardships and a few tips on a little-discussed topic in the diplo community.  Considering divorce while living overseas. ---Check out EPISODE 122- Advice from a Family Attorney on Divorce w/one or both living overseas  --- Please see our other episode on this topic, from a legalisitic, expert perspective. Please share your story!  If you have something to contrib...

Ever feel like you would like some more information on exactly WHAT all these acronyms and embassy code means?  We are here for you. Susie is a FOUNTAIN of information.  If you'd like to work with someone who KNOWS what overseas life looks like and pretty much knows what she's doing- you can find her at: www.healthyexpatparent.com Angi works with Teens & Parents at www.teenlines.com  

Menopause happens.  Why haven't we been talking about it more? Menopause Coach Michelle Hervy talks about what you can do for you before, during and after Menopause.   This episode looks at: What are the pre-menupausal signs?  What about HRT?  To work with Susie - www.healthyexpatparent.com To work with Michelle Hervy--       https://lk.linkedin.com/in/michelle-hervy-b246a063 For more information...

Parenting is hard.  But what happens when you know you do not WANT to be a parent?  One of the most challenging works to take on: parenting.  There's no way to test-drive being a parent. There's no way to know what kind of kid you're signing up to parent. Let's talk about it. If you or someone you know could benefit from an authentic safe space to discuss things like this: please connect with Jenn...

This episode addresses best practices and useful tips for saying farewell in the healthiest ways.  In our Global Nomad community this is one of the MOST VALUABLE skills for TCKs to understand. Reach out to any of our Expert Expats to work with us directly   Jennie- www.theexpatmom.com   Katie- www.learningtoflourish.org

This isn't an easy one.  This is challenging situation to face and there are some extra considerations (beyond the emotional loss) while we live overseas and our family member lives in the US. The services and paperwork all needs to be completed or organized away from our "home base."   This isn't an "advice" episode but a personal account of facing this situation- to give you a heads up and some...

Planning ahead.  Don't let summer break catch you off gaurd.  Keep your kids on track with strategies and ideas to stay focused over the summer.  It's April now let's make June, July and August smooth sailing for academic success.    

There's so much to do.  I can't get it all done.  I only have two months to make this all happen.    Sound familiar?  Here we apply some Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to our own Moving Mindset. Join Jennie & Angi for a discussion on prepping for the next move.   Jennie can help your Mom life struggles be less of an uphill battle: www.theexpatmom.com Angi works with teens to build confidence and int...

Have you ever noticed at post that there seems to be two very seperate groups between the spouses?  Sometimes it feels like two sides: EFMs who work at the Embassy vs. EFMs who work outside the embassy & manage the home   Being the partner of an overseas diplo-employee has it's challenges.  How can we address and include the 'other side' in our own circles, work, friendships and events?   We at Th...

A conversation with LIsa Hope Tilstra about Self Compassion.     Work with Susie: www.healthyexpatparent.com   Lisa's site and podcast:  https:// makelifelessdifficult.com/ podcast   Kristin Neff's site:  https://self-compassion. org/ and book:  Self Compassion   Further reading:  https://www. healthyexpatparent.com/post/ hush-critic-1

Many parents face a child who may say "I want to die."  How do we handle something like that?  Especially when the path for support isn't exactly clear.  Is it a rant and offhand remark similar to "you're ruining my life!"?   Or, does this indicate emotional distress which I need to address? How can I address it?   Please share our podcast with others, if you know someone facing this issue.   Kati...

  Trailing spouse life is not always easy.  Join us to get ideas.  Please connect with us on the challenges you are facing to be featured on an upcoming episode of the Big Purple Blob. www.thebigpurpleblob.com Find Jennie at www.expatmom.com  

"If I seek help for my own health struggle, I worry that it could affect (or limit) my medical clearance and ability to work."  Have you or someone you know had this worry while working overseas?  Join the Purple Blob for a light discussion with Susie & Angi to acknowledge the fears that many people in the diplo community face. Let's clear some of the myths and concerns out of the way.  RMOP is he...