What is Parental Resilience?
Parental Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult life experiences, and often to be strengthened by and even transformed by those experiences. Resilience is the flexibility and inner strength to bounce back when things are not going well. Parents with resilience are better able to protect their children from stress and can help children learn critical self-regulation and problem-solving skills. Addressing stressors in the family, community, and society will ultimately create stronger, more resilient families.
What Does Parental Resilience Look Like?
- Problem-solving skills
- Ability to cope with stress
- Self-care strategies
- Help-seeking behavior
- Receiving mental health or substance abuse services if needed
- Not allowing stress to impact parenting
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Where do you draw your strength? How does this help you in parenting?
- What are your dreams for yourself and family?
- What kind of worries and frustrations do you deal with during the day? How do you solve them?
- How are you able to meet your children's needs when you are stressed?
- How does your spouse, partner, or closest friend support you? When you are under stress, what is most helpful?
- What do you do to take care of yourself when you are stressed?
Willow trees are known for their ability to bend without breaking. They're strong and flexible, which is what you need to be to deal with everyday stresses. You may not be able to totally change your life to escape adversity, but you can change how you deal with it. Stay strong and build up your resources to be resilient when a crisis confronts your family.