What You Need to Know if You Live Abroad with Melissa Dalton Bradford

This episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast features Christopher Robbins in conversation with Melissa Dalton Bradford. Melissa, an experienced global citizen, shares insights into the intricacies of living abroad and raising a family across multiple countries. They discuss practical aspects such as learning the local language, understanding legal regulations, education options for children, and the emotional impact of frequent relocations. Melissa reflects on the personal growth and resilience developed through her family's international experiences, while also acknowledging some challenges and solutions learned along the way.

Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Introduction to the podcast and host, Christopher Robbins. 00:00:41: Introduction of guest, Melissa Dalton Bradford, and her background. 00:02:02: Melissa talks about adjusting to Germany's weather and nature. 00:03:22: Discussion on the importance of learning the local language for integration. 00:04:18: Overview of the countries Melissa's family has lived in and the languages they speak. 00:06:40: Challenges and considerations of living abroad with children. 00:10:23: First experiences of moving internationally and encountering language barriers. 00:15:19: Strategies for helping children adapt to new school systems and environments. 00:21:55: Considerations for deciding the duration of living abroad and integration level. 00:24:40: Necessity of healthcare coverage and other financial aspects for expatriates. 00:25:08: Personal reflections on the benefits and challenges of living abroad. 00:29:59: Information on where to find Melissa Bradley online.

Key Takeaways

• Learning the local language is crucial for true cultural integration and building meaningful connections.
• Research legal regulations, health care requirements, and residency permits before moving abroad.
• Understand educational options for children to ensure their smooth transition and academic success.
• Balance commitment to new cultures with maintaining psychological stability for children and adults.

Tweetable Quotes

• "You can get by in English, but you can't get in." - Melissa Dalton Bradford
• "For every author, there's never enough publicity and the royalty checks are never large enough." -Christopher Robbins
• "I know how to make this work. I'm gonna make it work." - Melissa Dalton Bradford

The Nature of Color with Kimberly Collins Jermaine

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins introduces Kimberly Collins Jermaine, a painter, teacher, and architectural color designer. They discuss Kimberly's new book, "The Nature of Color," which serves as a field guide for exploring color in the natural world. The conversation delves into the science of how humans perceive color, differences in color perception between men and women, and the emotional and relational impact of color. Kimberly emphasizes the importance of being outdoors to truly appreciate and learn from nature's palette.

Episode Highlights 00:00:10: Introduction to the Helping Families Be Happy podcast and Christopher Robbins. 00:00:10: Christopher introduces guest Kimberly Collins Jermaine and her work as a painter, teacher, and author focused on color. 00:02:03: Kimberly shares her journey of creating a more engaging approach to color theory for her students. 00:03:09: Discussion on how humans perceive color through the eyes' rods and cones. 00:04:44: Differences in color perception between men and women are explored. 00:06:01: Understanding that individuals may perceive the same color differently and its impact on art and architecture. 00:07:15: How color influences mood and family dynamics is discussed. 00:09:06: Kimberly explains why nature is crucial for learning about color. 00:10:07: Insight into using "The Nature of Color" book as a field guide for personal exploration in nature. 00:11:41: Kimberly's approach to appreciating different artists and how personal interests guide artistic exploration. 00:13:02: Christopher shares his admiration for Van Gogh's unique painting style and its possible origins. 00:14:48: Kimberly's hopes for what readers will gain from her book. 00:16:45: Discussion on experiencing vibrant fall colors and the natural world. 00:17:00: Encouragement to engage with nature and use the book as a simple guide. 00:17:32: Kimberly provides information on where to find her work online. 00:17:55: Conclusion encouraging subscription to the podcast and exploring books from Familius.

Key Takeaways

• The perception of color is subjective and can vary between individuals, genders, and environments.
• Nature serves as a rich, diverse palette that can teach us about color theory and its application in our lives.
• Color significantly affects human emotions and should be consciously used in personal and architectural spaces.
• Kimberly's field guide offers a practical method for documenting and understanding color experiences in nature.

Tweetable Quotes

• "Nature is the source for everything, and that's where we learn the most about what's important to us as humans in this great cosmos." – Kimberly Collins Jermaine
• "Explore outdoors and find where your interests lie and how color makes those interests more lively and important to you." – Kimberly Collins Jermaine
• "It doesn't really have to be called a hike if you don't wanna call it a hike. Just find ways to enjoy using the resources that we have in our environment." – Kimberly Collins Jermaine

How to Connect with Family When on the Road

In this episode of the Helping Families Be Happy podcast, host Christopher Robbins speaks with Brian Brown about parenting on the road while maintaining a full-time job. Brian shares his experiences and strategies for staying connected with his family despite travels that take him away from home. The discussion covers the importance of genuine communication, creating traditions such as collecting books from different locations, and involving children in understanding the parent's work life. Listeners will find valuable insights on nurturing relationships with their children while balancing professional commitments.

Episode Highlights

00:00:09: Introduction to the podcast and guest, Brian Brown, and the focus on parenting while working full-time away from home.

00:01:42: Brian expresses pleasure in participating and remarks on the importance of being real to maintain family connections.

00:01:46: Exploring how to be an engaged and loving parent even when miles apart by prioritizing real and honest communication.

00:03:09: Brian discusses making proactive efforts to call at times that are suited to his and his daughter's schedules, reflecting prioritization.

00:04:17: Introduction to the power of parental gifts, with focus on tangible and intangible gifts, and Brian's book collection tradition.

00:05:09: Brian describes his tradition of buying children's books from local bookstores worldwide during his travels.

00:07:21: Encouraging children to appreciate the parent's work life by involving them in meaningful conversations and sharing experiences.

00:08:07: Engaging children in genuine conversations by asking specific questions that elicit better and more extensive responses.

00:09:59: Host Christopher Robbins summarizes the recommendations and invites listeners to connect with Brian on LinkedIn.

00:10:21: Closing comments thanking participants and encouraging listeners to explore literature to engage families and improve happiness.

Key Takeaways

Prioritizing real and honest communication builds stronger connections with family members even when physically apart.

Being proactive in scheduling calls during travel demonstrates prioritizing family over work engagements. Creating a tradition, such as collecting local books, can reinforce thoughtful engagement with family while providing meaningful memories.

Encouraging genuine conversations through specific questions helps build deeper relationships and better understanding between parents and children.

Involving children in understanding the parent's work life can lead to increased appreciation and engagement in both lives.

Tweetable Quotes

"Being real in our conversations often builds the bridge back home, no matter how far the distance."

"A simple book from the road, with memories inscribed, can connect us back to those we cherish the most."

"Ask your kids something specific about their day—it's where the true stories unfold." "Quality time is less about where you are and more about where your heart is."

Show Notes by Barevalue.