Encouraging Resilience in Children The next time you’re at the beach, ask your children to watch the waves crash onto the shore and ask them if the waves worry whether they will get hurt crashing into rocks or the shore. Growing pains build a strong mindset. Instead of preventing your children from experiencing the pain of disappointment, remind yourself that the hidden gifts of mistakes and failures are the opportunity to grow a positive outlook and the courage to ride the scariest waves in life. shore. When professional surfer Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack in 2003, resulting in her left arm being bitten off, she returned to professional surfing and became an inspiring author. Her mission is to help families overcome obstacles, and her books, “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board” and “Be Unstoppable: The Art of Never Giving Up” are incredible resources to discover how to shift one’s mindset so setbacks will never be reasons to give up. Karen K.C. Gibson, a mother and family/parent coach, founded “Letting Go with Aloha” in 2020 and recorded 100 parenting tips during the pandemic, leading to her book “One Hundred Parenting Tips Inspired by the Pandemic.” She also authored “Mama’s Gotta Let Go: How to Let Go without Losing Your Sanity,” providing parents guidance on peaceful parenting. Since 1999, she has offered private tutoring through her company, Brain Builders, and coauthored “The Power to Rise Above,” a collection of personal stories from 30 women worldwide. In 2024, she published “365 Parenting Affirmations and Quotes,” available on Amazon, a daily dose of inspiration and guidance for parents navigating the beautiful journey of raising children. Learn more by visiting her websites: karenthebrainbuilder.com and LettingGowithAloha.com. 116 HAWAII PARENT May/June 2025 “Ask them if the waves worry whether they will get hurt crashing into rocks” Instilling a growth mindset in your child reinforces the significance of persistence, resilience, and lifelong learning.
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