June 04th, 2022

June Newsletter

Welcome to the monthly newsletter from DistanceFamilies.com

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DISTANCE FAMILIES NEWS

I enjoyed this The Atlantic article about making families work. If you have a subscription it is worth a read. The key message is that “imperfect people can still enjoy a satisfying and healthy bond”.

Books are one of our family’s ‘currencies’. Here the author reminds us of the importance of reading and giving book

Global mobility can be littered with challenges so I was proud and delighted to see an article pop up on LinkedIn by an extended family member. His family are digital nomads and when one location really wasn’t working, they packed up and found somewhere different. There’s another expat sibling in this family and combined they’ve lived in several countries. The New Zealand distance grandmother (my sister-in-law) is very accepting – a great place to be. 

​I have had a couple of cameos this month. The May theme for FIGT was guilt: guilt of the left behind family and all the other types of guilt that land on the shoulders of Distance Families. Here I read an extract from my latest book, Being a Distance Son or Daughter. Later in the month I had my first ‘live on YouTube’ experience with a webinar hosted by multi-lingual expert Ute Limacher-Riebold PhD of Ute’s International Lounge. She asked some great questions, and I was brutally honest. 

There are plenty of other articles and interviews on the Distance Families website.

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BOOK SERIES NEWS

I am very proud to announce that Being a Distance Son or Daughter – a Book for ALL Generations, the second book in the Distance Families series is published. 

You may order your copy NOW:

New Zealand: The paperback edition is available now. Full details here.
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Global: E-book paperback available for pre-order now, for delivery after 7/7/22.

Ana McGinley is the author of Parental Guidance: Long Distance Care for Aging Parents, the only complementary title in the marketplace. This is what she had to say about Being a Distance Son or Daughter.

“I have been a global citizen for much longer than was a stationary citizen.  Not fully belonging anywhere is a feeling I am comfortable with, and even crave if I stay too long in any one place. My husband and children understand this feeling, even if they experience it somewhat differently.  My family and oldest friends love telling stories about my newest location but really know very little about my experiences. It has always been this way.  Until I read Helen´s book, I was unaware that the way I felt and bumbled through my oldest relationships was common to serial expats.  This book provided insight into how others have found solutions to navigate distant relationships in a way that can be mutually satisfying.  As my own adult children start to scatter around the globe, I have the advantage of being able to experience their joy secondhand, combined with new knowledge on managing our future distant relationships.  What an excellent life resource!”

Order your copy now and be one of the first to read 
​Being a Distance Son or Daughter - a Book for ALL Generations

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ON THE HOME FRONT

In the past year I have done numerous online podcasts and webinars. Every in-person author event has been cancelled - thanks to COVID and New Zealand's strict policies. However, in Chicago, and thanks to the energetic Linda Mueller from @theexpatpartnercoach I finally got to meet readers in person, at a local library event.

A bonus extra was meeting a fellow author, Margaret Ghielmetti, who has written an engaging expat memoir, Brave(ish), I can highly recommend.

What a joy and privilege to meet in-person.

Here is what Linda had to say about Being a Distance Son or Daughter.

The end of May saw us finally boarding a plane to visit our U.S. Distance Family - our first visit in 3.5 years. It felt a tad scary trying to keep out of circulation before we left - there was a lot at stake. When we were presented with negative COVID test results, the morning of our departure, we could finally get excited. We're now in Chicago and soon move on to Florida to vacation with our family and finally hug our grandsons.

​I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of Helen's latest book "Being a Distance Son or Daughter" and I highly recommend it. Helen's research, resources, and vulnerable insight have me both patting myself on the back for the things I've done well AND considering ways that I can improve how I distance family. It's truly a book for 'ALL' generations.

Take care until next time
Helen Ellis