Resilient Families Archives - Page 3 of 21

Resilient Families

We’re learning how to create a resilient, emotionally healthy family culture. Here you’ll find honest parenting stories and ideas for developing resilient families. We’re letting go of perfect, we’re forgiving ourselves over and over and we’re growing together.

Glad you’re here!

I am not psychologist or therapist, I am a mom who has studied and implemented ideas I’ve found on family resilience and connection for the sake of my own family, and I am a parenting mentor who has worked with other families helping them create more connection and positive communication in their own families. The perspectives shared here on Bounceback Parenting come from my own experiences and studies.

I do my best to share honestly about the unexpected challenges, fears frustrations we’ve faced in our family, and many readers share in the comments as well. Knowing you are not alone is validating and comforting.

A few of my influences in regards to parenting and family resilience include:
(These are Amazon affiliate links).

Strengthening Family Resilience by Froma Walsh, Ph.D.
Mindset by Carol Dweck Ph.D.
Mindsight by Dan Siegel M.D.
Connection Parenting by Pam Leo
Taking the War Out of Our Words by Sharon Strand Ellison

What does it mean to be a resilient family?

First, we may need to change perspective here. A resilient family isn’t a fixed state of being, something you either are or are not. Family resilience is something we can grow over time by cultivating family processes and capabilities that allow us to cope with difficulties, learn from challenges, and solve problems together.

“Resilience can be defined as the capacity to rebound from adversity strengthened and more resourceful.” “What distinguishes healthy families is not the absence of problems or suffering but rather their coping and problem solving abilities.”
~Froma Walsh

Some of the topics I talk about here on Bounceback Parenting that helps you develop greater resilience in your family include:

Practicing Presence: Trying to find a bit more mindfulness and bit less judgement in ourselves so that we increase the ability to pause and respond rather than simply reacting.
Strengths-Based Perspective: Empowering our children and ourselves. Developing a growth mindset in our families.
Open Communication: Improving the clarity of our communication through better listening, and deepening our understanding of our own communication habits and needs.
Emotional Health: Learning more about healthy experience and expression of emotions in ourselves and others.
Flexible Routines – Simplifying daily routines of family life to increase your ability to bounce back when the inevitable disruptions occur.

Hare are a few of readers favorite posts on these topics, and of course you can find more in my other categories on connecting with kids, dealing with anger, and taking care of yourself.

Jan 20

Make Sure Your Family Feels the Love – it’s simpler than you may think

A friend of mine is grieving the loss of her mother this week. She sent out a simple, yet heartfelt message that said: "If it’s been a bit since you’ve talked to someone you love.... pick up the phone and say I love you." I’ve been thinking about that this week. Pick up the phone and say I [...]Continue Reading

Jan 2

How to Make Sure Your Kids Get the Physical, Emotional and Learning Benefits of Physical Play in the Early Years

The benefits of physical activity are not only related to physical health, but also contribute to psychological well-being, cognitive development (attention and concentration), social competence and emotional maturity (controlling emotions and behavior, self-esteem and self-respect). All of this [...]Continue Reading

Dec 15

If behavior is communication – what do I do about it?

One of the most powerful shifts I made as a parent was when I started really focusing on behavior as communication, rather than simply reacting to the behavior in front of me as if it were a direct assault on my nerves. When one of my kids is really out of sorts, it acts as a beacon to me and I ask [...]Continue Reading

Oct 20

10 Phrases to Help You Develop a Growth Mindset in Parenting

One shift in thinking has drastically improved my parenting, and that is moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset about being a mom. This growth mindset says - you are always learning and it's never too late to make a more positive choice. When you make a mistake it's not an indication that [...]Continue Reading

Oct 2

Two Activities to Teach Basics of Emotional Regulation to Kids

Teach these two activities to kids and give them essential tools for self regulation and emotional control. This post contains Amazon affiliate links - if you purchase through I receive compensation at no extra cost to yourself. October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month and Bounceback [...]Continue Reading

Sep 21

Growth Mindset in Relationships – the mindset shift that will transform your parenting

You may have heard about helping kids have a growth mindset. This idea, discovered by Psychologist Carol Dweck, is simple, yet has huge effects on people's learning, motivation and ability to succeed. In short, a growth mindset means having the belief that everyone can learn and grow starting right [...]Continue Reading