Whatever the reasons prompting a family's move, whether the move is within the town or to a foreign country, the impact of moving on the family unit is tremendous. A mother who has crossed continents and cultural barriers shares her experiences, showing how parents can play a key role in helping their children with the transitions.

"Whither thou goest I will go,
Thy people shall be my people
and my people, thine…"
Book of Ruth

The day I tied my sails to my husband's ship, little did I know just how literally those words would shape my horizons. I was totally unprepared for the emotional and practical havoc that founding a three-nationality family would create in my life.

Four children, three continents, much laughter and tears later, here are some of the insights I've gleaned over the last few years.

Reasons For Moving

People move for many reasons. Primary needs for greener pastures sparked early human migrations. Curiosity, wars and human greed, the lure of adventure and the hope for better fortunes motivated crossing the oceans, some believe as early as the time of the Ancient Egyptian and Inca civilizations.

Today's migrations are prompted by a more complex diversity of reasons: personal, financial, work-related, health reasons, or a combination of reasons, often fueled by much the same curiosity and quest for the "greener side of the fence" that motivated our ancestors.