What do you wish your parents did better?

Tl;Dr: I'm planning to raise my kids as TCKs in Asia and would like to hear from TCKs about how to be a good parent and raise emotionally healthy and confident children.

I'm not a TCK but I'm planning to raise my future kids as TCKs. I'm a Chinese-Australian who was raised in two cultures so I already feel similar to TCKs in some ways. I'm planning to raise my future kids in either China or SEA (country not decided yet but it will be somewhere where there's a Chinese community and an English-speaking expat community). The plan is for my children to go to an international school, where, hopefully, I will be a teacher and get free tuition for my kids. I'm planning to get a teaching qualification.

I just want to hear from TCKs about the potential pitfalls of being a TCK and what you think your parents could have done better to help you develop a healthy identity and emotional health?

I am from a large city in Australia with a high percentage of migrants/expats/international students, so growing up in a cosmopolitan city in Asia would not be too different from growing up here. Where I am currently, there isn't a strong sense of community anyway (in fact probably less so than in Asia) so I don't think my kids would miss out on much if they didn't grow up here.

I foresee that I will move back to Australia for retirement (unless I can get a retirement visa in Asia), but I want my kids to have the option of pursuing their career or education anywhere in the world. I want them to be adaptable and globalised in their education and outlook as it will increase their career opportunities. The only issue I can foresee is that they may not be able to stay in physical contact with their childhood friends once they grow up, but that can happen anyway regardless of whether people move to another country or not, it's natural for people to drift apart as they get older. In any case, they will be able to keep in touch with their friends via video calls and messaging apps and I will encourage them to do that. I foresee myself travelling between Australia and Asia and making sure my kids experience life in both countries. My parents are in Australia and will most likely stay here for the rest of their lives.

Do you foresee any problems with my plans, and do you have any suggestions based on your own experiences? I want to make sure my kids grow up mentally healthy and supported, and develop the confidence to survive as adults in the globalised world.