TCKs and Passport Childhoods: Gifts & Challenges of Growing Up Globally

In this episode of Nomadic Diaries, we sat down with Tanya Crossman, a leading expert on Third Culture Kids (TCKs) whose personal experiences and professional work have made her a trusted voice in the global mobility community.

 Tanya's Third Culture Journey 

Tanya Crossman's journey as a TCK began with moves between Australia and the United States during her childhood, following her father's career path. Her cross-cultural experiences deepened significantly when she later spent 13 years living and working in China. These formative experiences across different continents gave her unique insights into the TCK experience that would later inform her professional work and writing.

 Finding Community Among the Misunderstood 

After years of feeling like an outsider in her own culture, Tanya discovered the profound relief of finding others who shared similar experiences. This revelation became the foundation of her life's work, as captured in her powerful quote: "I'm not alone has become a mantra for so much of the work that I do."

 Defining the Third Culture Experience 

Tanya brings clarity to what it means to be a Third Culture Kid, addressing common misconceptions and explaining that the "third culture" isn't a specific place but rather the shared experience of growing up among different cultural worlds. She explores how TCKs develop a unique cultural identity that combines elements from their passport culture, host cultures, and the expatriate community itself.

 Emotional Intelligence and TCK Challenges 

One of the most valuable insights Tanya shares is how the TCK experience can affect emotional development:

• A tendency toward emotional suppression as a survival mechanism during frequent transitions
• How this suppression can hinder the development of healthy conflict resolution skills
• The importance of creating safe spaces for TCKs to process complex emotions about mobility, identity, and belonging

Guidance for Parents and Caregivers 

Tanya offers practical wisdom for parents raising children across cultures:

• The importance of preventive care rather than crisis intervention
• Creating environments where emotions can be expressed safely and processed
• Understanding that TCKs are "growing up in a completely different world than you are"
• Recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities that come with a globally mobile childhood

Resources for the TCK Journey 

Tanya highlights the growing body of resources available to support TCKs and their families:

• Her book, "Misunderstood," which explores common threads in TCK experiences
• "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds" (often called the TCK Bible)
• Practical tools for parents, educators, and caregivers working with globally mobile children

 Connect with Tanya 

For more resources on supporting Third Culture Kids:

• Personal website:  tanyacrossman.com 
• TCK Training:  tcktraining.com