Don't be surprised if kids who were fairly independent get more clingy and whiny. Don't be surprised if a teenager who pretended as it you weren't alive in the U.S. expects you to help him get hooked up with some new activities. Don't be surprised if a child acts sad and down. Let him know it's okay to feel that way. Overall, living abroad can be a positive experience for children, Kugelman told an international conference here March 7-9.
Children can turn out to be more mature, more independent, more open-minded, and more flexible.
But nobody said it was easy. The more isolated the family, the more the parents are the role models. Parents who themselves complain about the move pass that attitude on to their children. Your guilt encourages and legitimizes their negativity. When you do feel guilty, you tend to relax rules, drop limits, and avoid saying no.