MIGRATORY DUEL

In our ISQ community the arrival of new members that come from other states or countries is a unique feature that enriches us. Changes are a constant in our lives, especially with our current events, where globalization has generated a wave of migrations to different places due to different circumstances. These movements usually generate improvements and good things for those who make and receive them in the medium and long term, however at the beginning, for some the change also generates anxiety and uncertainty and a period of adaptation that requires support from the entire community in which insert.

Children are not exempt from this, let's take a minute to analyze everything that implies a migration: Leave your country or city, your school, your friends, your extended family, your routines, etc. To get to a place, home, school, classmates, customs, weather, food, and even new language, for some (adults and children) it is easier, for others (many) it is a more complex process, even sometimes painful, since the changes will always represent small resignations that are only overcome when working as grieving processes.

The duel refers just to that course of emotional adaptation that follows a loss, transit through those changes, renunciations and losses in our mind, necessarily implies feeling them in the emotional sphere, in the case of a migration we can speak of a “duel migratory".

Once we reach our new adventure, we begin a series of mobilizations in terms of psychological resources that are aimed at preserving one's identity, some more fruitful than others, in the case of children and adolescents, who are in full training of their personality, it would be important to pay special attention so that as parents we provide the support you may be needing during this adaptation process. In some cases children may be expressing their emotions, crying a lot, refusing to attend the new school, sleeping excessively or not sleeping, losing their appetite or on the other hand eating excessively because of anxiety, some others will be angry, aggressive with their new ones partners, refused to participate in activities, many others, too passive, resigned, sad, apathetic. You as parents who know your child better than anyone else, will be able to detect these variations in your way of being, some are very obvious, others may require more observation and attention because although they may be very subtle changes, they may be causing you emotional distress at least And that is why in this little article we want to give you some suggestions to help the little ones to face in a better way such a significant change in their life:

● Approaching the community of their own nationality that is already based in the new destination, this is a fundamental support network for both parents and children, because it provides support in this insertion to the new country and city where they will live, with them They will be able to speak and express their feelings in their mother tongue, which gives them a feeling of support, company and solidarity, and, little by little, they can present them with local people who will also be key to their adaptation.

● Let us think that he has already located his countrymen who live in his/her new place of reception, now another important point to adapt in a better way, would also be open to meet and interact with local people, so if they invite you and your children to a child's party at school, or to go out with parents' co-workers, etc. See it as excellent opportunities to be part of the community, learn the language and see regional customs firsthand.

● Do not just wait for the invitation to be presented, how about it is you who organize a meeting to meet people? Here is a valuable time to talk about your country, share a typical meal of your place of origin with Mexican people and exchange experiences. All this is to weave "support networks" that will be key to their habituation in their new country.

• For many, but in particular for children and adolescents, one way to reduce anxieties and obtain security is to establish solid and consistent routines, so try to find the routine that as a family can work best for you. Keep the children informed about their new schedules, activities and more information that will help them prepare mentally for when the time comes to do them and comply with what has been agreed with them in relation to this issue.

● It is of vital importance to generate a space of family unity where the climate of trust is well grounded so that it can be this, a space of dialogue where children and adolescents can express everything they feel: fear, anger, sadness, anxiety, anger, guilt, nostalgia, distrust, enthusiasm, hope, enthusiasm, admiration, curiosity, etc. The idea is: emotional language at home, open the space to have these conversations where everyone can express honestly how they are feeling, it is worth remembering here that "when the word does not reach, the body speaks" and does not always do it in the best ways, have you heard of somatization?

● Since they have a space for dialogue in family, it is up to us parents to help our children, to transform the negative into learning and finding the positive aspects of the new life, guiding children and adolescents in ways to approach for new friends and help them stay motivated when it is somewhat low.

● Look for information about your place of reception, local customs and everything you think may help you to be more prepared during your adaptation process. Things that might seem so insignificant, such as hygiene habits, courtesy greetings, road traffic rules, etc., can be a key factor for proper socialization.

Once this migratory duel is overcome, with the challenges associated with change, children, adolescents and parents themselves, transform, discover or develop psychological resources so far unknown and that leads them to develop resilience, self-esteem skills, tolerance and openness to diversity among many other things.

Once this migratory duel is overcome, with the challenges associated with change, children, adolescents and parents themselves, transform, discover or develop psychological resources so far unknown and that leads them to develop resilience, self-esteem skills, tolerance and openness to diversity among many other things.

As locals that we receive in our community to families from other places, we also have to seek these spaces of rapprochement with them, of dialogue, of support, maintaining an open, receptive attitude to understand and learn from their valuable customs, teach them ours and find coincidences, in the end, we are all human beings. This as a community strengthens us, enriches us and guides us to think of ourselves as true citizens of the world.

Stay tuned for all informative articles, conferences, workshops and other activities that we have scheduled for ISQ families.

The first conference for you families: Friday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m.

If you have more questions or suggestions write to me at isq.seguro@isq.edu.mx

Psic. Alejandra Morales Arroyo