Welcome!
Raising TCKs was started out to be an online community for parents raising Third Culture Kids (TCKs). We all know that raising kids isn’t always easy, but raising them in a culture other than our own is even more challenging. Raising TCKs is a place I hope that can bring encouragement and maybe some wisdom to anyone who is in the process of raising a TCK. I’ve recently added a new tab, “Book Review”, which is a place where you can find posts on books about TCKs, expat living and anything else related to living overseas.
About Me:
Hi! I’m MaDonna Maurer. No, I’m not famous and I don’t sing except for occasionally in the shower. I’m not a MK(missionary kid), a BK(business kid), or a PK(pastor’s kid or principal’s kid). I grew up in Small Town, USA with fields of corn and wheat. I always had a desire to live near rice paddy fields. So, after graduating from college I moved to Asia to teach at an international school. It was there that I first heard the term TCK. It is also there that I met my husband, Uwe.
He’s a German TCK. In our fifteen years of marriage I’ve gained much wisdom from him about living overseas, how to say good-bye well, and living in a multi-cultural marriage. And having lived in now nine different homes, I’ve learned a few packing tricks.
Although I live in Asia, I still have yet to live near a rice paddy field, but that could change (you just never know when you’re married to a TCK). Instead I’ve become a small town girl living a big-city girl’s life. I’m okay with that.
We came to be a family of five when we became the forever family for our youngest daughter. I try to use internet names for my three TCKs: my son Ge Ge, my daughter Jie Jie with a genetic disorder (Cri-du-Chat), and my youngest daughter Mei Mei. I call us the “Fusion Family!” – for we seem to be fused together by culture, race, and disabilities.
We are not perfect, nor do we have expat living down to a fine art, but I hope that you will be encouraged here.
~Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your comments, so please feel free to leave your thoughts or stories on each post.
If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page here.
Hi Madonna, we been an expat family for 11 years, so I know what it’s like. I was thrilled to come across your blog. I look forward to reading more of it.
I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi MaDonna! I was happy to stumble upon your blog and see that I’m not alone in this journey! I look fwd to reading more about the fusion family’s adventures!
I’m so glad you stumbled too! Yes, we are not alone and can learn from each other. I’m all about that.
Hi MaDonna – I stumbled upon your blog on a random Google search. Love the blog! I’m not a parent but I’m a TCK (originally German/Japanese and living in LA) and blog about establishing the US my home. I feel I can relate to your kids 😉 Keep up the great work!
So glad you “stumbled”! I’m sure you can relate to my kids! How are you adjusting to the US? My husband (German) moved there after high school and thought he would fit in better, but didn’t. Now he’s married to one. HA! Anyway, thanks for stopping by! I’m coming to check out your blog!
Hi MaDonna, I just nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award! 😉
Thanks! I’m speechless – really.
MaDonna, I really like your blog and I think you deserve this (and more)!
Hi MaDonna, and here I am again: I just nominated you for the Liebster Blogger Award!
Thanks so much!
You’re very welcome! I love your blog!
Hi MaDonna, glad to have found your blog. I am an ATCK and I’m doing research for a project I’m working on and it makes me so happy that there are so many like-minded people out there.
Love to read more.
I’m so glad you found “me” too! Thanks for commenting and I wish you well on your project.
What a great resource your blog is! Glad I found it.
Thanks so much for taking time to comment. Such encouraging words!
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