Welcome!

Raising TCKs began as 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. As you read more about me, you’ll find that due to the make up of our family, I will be writing not only about typical, but also those TCKs with special needs and adoption. 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.

About Me:

Hi! I’m MaDonna Maurer. No, I’m not famous and I don’t sing except for occasionally in the car.  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 over twenty years of marriage I’ve gained much wisdom from him about the ins and outs of this transitional lifestyle, as well as, living within a multi-cultural marriage. I can’t lie. It hasn’t been the easiest, but I would do this again.

We have three kids – and I generally call the five of us the “Fusion Family” – for we seem to be fused together by gender, race, and abilities. Our oldest, GeGe (Chinese for older brother), has been a typical boy who is now ready to move on into university. Our second, Jie Jie (Chinese for older sister), has Cri-du-Chat Syndrome with several developmental delays. Our youngest, Mei Mei (Chinese for younger sister) is adopted from China. Between the three kids, they have gone to local schools, international schools, small start-up schools, home-schooled, and lived in a dorm while attending high-school. I think I can safely say, I’ve seen the full spectrum of education.

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Most of my time in Asia has been spent living in mega-cities, but about five years ago we moved to a smaller city. My husband and I no longer with in schools, but started a charity called Taiwan Sunshine. I now drive by rice patty fields every day to take Jie Jie to school. I still “teach” our youngest, but have expanded my writing to hopefully one day be a published author with novels and books related to TCK issues.

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.