Distance Families
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​Helen Ellis M.A.

​Author, researcher, anthropologist, distance grandparent & founder of DistanceFamilies.com

An encourager of empathy within intergenerational distance families


My husband and I are New Zealanders and this country has always been home. We have four children between us and we've been distance parents for 30+ years, and distance grandparents for 20+ years. One or other of our children has lived for either months, years or permanently in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Sweden, U.S.A., Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Sudan and Pakistan. These days three of our adult children and 5.5 of our 6.5 grandchildren (6-24 yrs) reside in the U.S.A., Scotland and England (we have another one on the way!)
​After a career in travel, event management and business ownership my life took a new direction via university studies. I completed a Master of Arts in Social Anthropology. My research asked the following question of long haul, New Zealand distance grandparents: "How is distance grandparenting for you?"
​What I learned from this experience is that distance grandparents and their families, have stories that need to be shared. Stories are intimate and personal: the way we make sense of our lives, actions, history and worlds.
​My journey has delivered me a unique understanding of distance familying and I feel passionately that by sharing our inter-generational experiences of how it is for all generations we will each grow in our understanding and most importantly, empathy, of each other's worlds.
I am currently co-chair of Families in Global Transition ANZA - a support and research organisation for all things global mobility.
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I am so grateful to Helen for our chat, it was so interesting to connect and share our work. I specifically loved hearing your ideas around distancing relationships- specifically grandparents- and how we may prepare families on the move for the new modality it implies.
 
My conversation with Helen went from going deep into the feelings and thoughts that are generated by the fact of living in a distance family relationship, to smart and practical tips that help kids and parents sustain and nurture their bonds with their grandparents and parents respectively.
 
Personally, our talk helped me reflect on how I relate to my own family and friends who live abroad. Our conversation was both touching and useful to rethink how we want our distance relationships to be.
 
I am excited to add this as a new chapter to my International Parenting sessions. Thanks again Helen, your mission of keeping distance families close is truly a gift to the expat world. I can’t wait to get my copy of Being a Distance Grandparent and Being a Distance Son or Daughter!

​Jacqueline Sturla, 
Psychotherapist & Intercultural Trainer, Buenos Aires
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Awards:

March 2023
Copyright Licensing NZ
Recipient of a Partnership Fund Grant for her upcoming book, 'Being a Distance Grandchild'.


February 2023
Peekabond
​Recognised as a Granfluencer!


February 2022
Australasian Workforce Management Awards
The 2021 TEMI Awards
Best Mobile Workforce Wellbeing Initiative

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August 2021
Expatriate Archive Centre
EAC Thesis Award Runner-up
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Helen Ellis is a member of:
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Website by author2author | © Helen Ellis 2020 All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Helen's Story
  • Book Series
    • Being a Distance Grandparent
    • Being a Distance Son or Daughter
    • Being a Distance Grandchild
  • Reviews
    • Being a Distance Grandparent
    • Being a Distance Son or Daughter
    • Write a review
  • Shop
    • Being a Distance Grandparent
    • Being a Distance Son or Daughter
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Helpful Reading
  • Follow
  • Monthy Newsletter
  • Libraries
  • Contact