The Cleymans

Author: thecleymans

  • How To Thrive In Raising Your Kids In A Culture That Is Not Your Own

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    thecleymans
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    Raising your kids in a country that’s not your own? I SOOOO get that ’cause…me too! My husband is Belgian, and we live here in Belgium , but I’m American. Even though our son is being raised in a European culture, I don’t want him to miss out on his American heritage. We’re lucky, especially…

  • 6 Strange & Somewhat Creepy Christmas Traditions Around The World

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    thecleymans
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    Hey Friends! This year, we had the amazing opportunity to coach students that have heritages from over 6 different cultures. We wanted to honor them, and share with all of you, the different Christmas traditions that are done in our client’s countries and cultures around the world. Now, pull up a chair, grab some egg…

  • This One Communication Shift Changed Our Marriage

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    thecleymans
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    “You’re just not LISTENING to me.” OUCH. If you’re married, chances are, you’ve heard this statement before. But, when you read it just now, how did you hear that in your head?Was this statement said with…Anger? Frustration? Contempt? Hopelessness? Kindness? Perhaps you heard it the way it’s been said to you before. Or maybe, you even heard it in the…

  • Ho, Ho, Hooold the Drama! 3 Tips to Get Through a Stepfamily Holiday Season

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    thecleymans
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    Being a part of a stepfamily isn’t always easy. Where we can’t change most of our circumstances, what we can do is remain flexible, lay down some boundaries and focus our mind on the similarities in our families rather than all the differences and challenges.

  • How To Get Through Hard Seasons in Marriage

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    thecleymans
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    You know those “seasons” that people talk about in marriage that are more challenging than others? Well, we are IN one. I’ve come on here not to “air” our dirty laundry, gossip or complain, but instead to share with you the reality we ALL as married couples face, or will face, and shed some light…

  • Expat mama has meltdown on playground

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    thecleymans
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    “No, STOP, uhhhh, nay….don’t do that, blah!” Ok, maybe meltdown is a strong word, but in the moment, it’s exactly how I felt. Chey here. Anyone else here living in a country that they didn’t grow up in? All the time, I am faced with new challenges due to the fact I am living in a country,…

  • Cleyman Family Update!

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    thecleymans
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    Ah, yes, because really – IT WAS ABOUT TIME! I had to scroll back through our posts to check when our last FAMILY update was – and my jaw dropped when I saw that it was 8 months ago! December 2021! How does that happen? All moms reading this know it’s one simple answer: LIFE!…

  • Everyone marries the WRONG person.

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    thecleymans
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    Ever heard someone say this to you: “Ugh, I married the WRONG person.” Or, just maybe, you’ve also heard yourself say these words or THINK them inside your head. We’d like to radically combat that thought with the fact/thought that actually, you’re correct. EVERYONE DOES marry the wrong person. So, if everyone marries the wrong…

  • To marry or not to marry?

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    thecleymans
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    To marry or not to marry? …is that even a question? There was a time in my life, before meeting Cheyanne, that I whole heartedly would have said: “No, that’s not even a question.” Meaning the answer is obviously a NO. Marriage was not necessary to me. But now, two years later, I still whole…

  • Is It What We Say Or How We Say It?

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    thecleymans
    in

    “You’re just NOT LISTENING to me.” OUCH. How did you hear that in your head? Was this statement said with… Anger? Frustration? Contempt? Hopelessness? Kindness? Perhaps you have heard it the way it’s been said to you before, because, YES…chances are if you’re married and reading this blog post, you’ve had that sentence above said…