Living Between Worlds: The Privileges and Losses of Global Childhoods

In this episode, Doreen Cumberford welcomes welcomes Mathieu Gagnon, an Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) and Professor of Psychology at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario specializing in the emotional experiences of third culture kids (TCKs), expats, and people in global transitions.

Mathieu's international upbringing as the son of a Canadian diplomat took him from Paris to Morocco, the Ivory Coast, Haiti, Switzerland, and back to Canada. Together, they dive deep into the emotional landscape of third culture kids (TCKs): from the privileges and the hidden losses, to the impacts of nostalgia and awe, and how these shape our sense of belonging, well-being, and self-continuity.

Key Topics

• Mathieu’s Third Culture Kid Journey
  • Childhood across multiple continents due to his father's diplomatic career
  • Challenges and privileges of growing up globally
  • Repatriation to Canada and the long road to understanding identity
• TCK Characteristics & Challenges
  • Issues with belonging and identity
  • The deeper, sometimes ineffable sense of rootlessness
  • Hidden losses, grief, and the ongoing process of adaptation
  • Resilience in children and advice for TCK parents: normalize and process complex emotions
• The Power of Nostalgia
  • Nostalgia as a bridge from loss to love
  • Its dual nature: potential to heal or to keep us stuck in the past
  • How nostalgia fosters social connection and builds meaning in life
  • The concept of self-continuity and how nostalgia can reinforce it
• Awe: More Than “Awesome”
  • Definition of awe and its complexity — both positive and terrifying
  • How awe is especially present in the TCK experience due to exposure to vast new environments and cultures
  • The benefits of cultivating awe: increased meaning, social connection, and even physical well-being
  • Awe as a practice for everyone, not just TCKs
• Advice for Parents Raising TCKs
  • Children are highly resilient, but struggle is normal
  • Don’t shy away from talking about the hard things and complex feelings
  • Be open about sadness; allow space to grieve loss and change together

Memorable Quotes

• “Nostalgia is a bridge from loss to love.”
• “Sadness means love… you never feel sad about something you don’t care about.”
• “Awe is a midpoint between deep interest and fascination — and fear.”
• “We get our stories right, and awe and nostalgia help us make sense of this nomadic life.”

Resources

• Contact Mathieu Gagnon: gagnonpsy@gmail.com
• TCK Research Podcast: 
• Key Research, Books, and Concepts:
• Third Culture Kids (TCKs): The core theme of the episode, referring to children raised in a culture different from their parents’ and/or the culture of their country of nationality.
• Ruth Van Reken: Referenced as an authority on TCKs and quoted for her insight, "I was encouraged, but never comforted."
• Van Tilburg’s research on nostalgia: Matthieu quotes a phrase from this researcher, "nostalgia is a bridge from loss to love," and mentions recent scholarly work examining 
• Doreen Cumberford: Host, author, and global transition expert

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Sayonara until next time!