About

If you’d like a refreshing outlook on parenting, you’re in the right place.

Bounceback Parenting^® will help you see the challenges in parenting as opportunities for growth and building resilience. You’ll discover why connection, not perfection wins the day, and you’ll be relieved to find that you can be a work in progress and still be a fantastic mom or dad to your kids.

Hi, I’m Alissa Marquess, a mom to three and the Founder of Bounceback Parenting.

I always wanted to be a mom and thought it would all come easily to me. It turned out, once I had my first child I was overwhelmed by the emotions, exhaustion and uncertainty. I had a mistaken belief that if I didn’t automatically know what to do, I was a bad mom.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

I am a work in progress, I am home.

Over time I discovered I could enjoy parenting more and develops strong bonds with my kids by shifting my thinking. I began to develop a growth mindset about parenting – realizing that as parents we’re always learning. There’s no shame in not knowing the answer yet, and the only thing you want to avoid is closing yourself off to growth.  I like to say: I am a work in progress, I am home.

Why Bounceback Parenting?

What I didn’t know at the beginning of this journey is that parenting would be the ultimate training in resilience. I had to learn to bounce back over and over again when I would stumble, and I’ve stumbled a lot.

Sometimes bouncing back has been extremely humbling, I’ve had to reexamine my assumptions and change my perspective.  Sometimes it’s been invigorating when I can bounce back with more knowledge, a new parenting tool or a deeper commitment to building the connected relationships I treasure. Either way I’m always learning and to me, being a Bounce Back Parent means that I strive to see the challenges in parenting as our best chances to grow.

You can be a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same time.

If you’re a glorious work in progress, and a messy masterpiece when it comes to parenting, you’re in the right place. If you’re willing to be curious, keep learning and keep looking for those moments of joy and connection even if chaos abounds, then you’re a Bounceback Parent too.

The Bounceback Parenting Credo:

Bounceback Parenting^®

We build resilient, connected families by having a growth mindset in parenting.

• We believe everyone can learn and grow, starting right from where they are – Choosing to look at past mistakes and current challenges not as indications of failure, but as the foundation for growth and resilience.

• We seek out everyday connections – Finding joy in the ordinary, nurturing open communication, and looking for unexpected moments to connect.

• We practice compassionate self care – Getting to know and accept ourselves, learning to notice our own needs and taking steps to tend to those needs.

• We empower others – Building on strengths , allowing for growth, and expecting the best from the people around us.

• We give ourselves permission to pause – Reflecting on what we’ve learned, celebrating wins and honoring losses; creating space to be intentional.

Connection, not perfection!

What I didn’t know at the beginning of this journey is that parenting would be the ultimate training in resilience. ~Alissa Marquess

More About Alissa:

Curious to know more about me?

1. I can help you communicate. And also help you choose a beer. I started this blog in 2010 when my kids were newborn, 3 and 5. During that time my husband and I were also starting a brewery, which feels like our fourth child, Mother Road Brewing Company. We continue to run and grow the brewery and between parenting and running businesses together we work a LOT  on our communication.

2. I can help you yell less. And also do crafts. This began as a blog about creativity, kid projects and activities (the original name of this blog was Creative with Kids, and you’ll still see that sprinkled through a bit). The more craft projects I tried to do, the more I realized that I needed a LOT more parenting tools if I wanted to actually enjoy activities with my kids, hence the gradual evolution to a parenting blog. Because I’ve struggled a lot with anger, I have a bunch of posts about dealing with anger. I’m not a doctor or therapist, but I love sharing about this topic, because over time I’ve been able to go from being a yelling, angry mom, to a mostly calm and happy mom. I love sharing what’s worked for me.
   
3. I wrote a couple viral posts that went viral, so I made posters of them. A couple of my posts, 100 Ways to be Kind to Your Child and 64 Positive Things to Say to Kids have been crazy popular, and due to many requests I’ve turned them into posters. You can find both of them in digital (print-at-home) or physical posters. My favorite thing about these is that by now I have sent these posters to over 30 different countries! I love that these positive reminders are in homes all over the world.
4. I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and it has fundamentally changed my life. I would even say it’s saved my life in the ways that it has brought me back to myself. BJJ is a grappling sport with chokehold and joint lock submissions. It may sound strange from the outside, but it is incredibly fun, empowering and addicting in the best way (My sister, not incorrectly says, “You’d actually rather be strangled than go mountain biking” Hahaha. yup).

   I started a little over a year ago when I was 37. I am the oldest woman at my gym and one of the smallest team members, 90% of whom are men. Showing up day after day and being treated with respect and welcome while pushing my body and mind to new limits has transformed the way I feel about myself. It has opened up my abilities to be truly authentic and caring to myself.

5. I can help you read more. I love to read. Books are friends, comfort, possibility and adventure to me. You can find out how I find time to read as a mom here. And each year at the end of December I post a list of the books that changed my life that year, you can find those book lists here.
6. I live in the part of Arizona that gets snow.  We humans and our animals reside in a little 1950’s house in Flagstaff, Arizona. We’re at 7000’ elevation in Northern AZ – so think snow and pine trees more than cactus. We’re about an hour away from the Grand Canyon.
   

How to connect with Bounceback Parenting:

• Sign up via email – there is an email sign up box at the bottom of this page, or on the homepage. You’ll get regular inspiration about the simple things that make a big difference.
• Bounceback Parenting on Facebook
• Bounceback Parenting on Pinterest
• Bounceback Parenting on Instagram

Together we’ll remind each other to notice the joy in the ordinary chaos, and find gratitude everyday. We’ll strive not to live perfectly but to live with connection, humility and the knowledge that if we stumble we can bounce back having learned something new and grown a bit more.

Welcome!