Mental Health & Wellbeing Report 

Persistence, Resilience and Struggle

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve ever done before.” – Bonnie Blair  

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Resilience is striving for something despite any hurdles that come your way. The most successful people are resilient and determined towards their goals no matter how difficult the path may be. This is an emotion and mindset every parent/carer/family should nurture in their children, so they become independent, brave, and determined. 

American author Robert Fulghum said, “Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” As a parent, I believe we are our children’s first teacher, so this quote resonates quite strongly with me. When my son was younger and was finding something challenging, I would model positivity and confidence. I would let him know that it is okay to struggle at times. Even though he is almost 21, we never stop being parents. To this day I still talk to him about being resilient, being persistent and how life can sometimes give you lemons. Come to think of it, my own parents still model positivity and confidence when I am facing adversity, perhaps this is where I learned it. These struggles are what build our resilience. It may be worth talking to your kids about the benefits of facing a challenge that they may have. You could even ask them what they may learn and the strategies they might use. You may be surprised by some of their answers.

For children who are still finding the start of the day challenging, here are a few ideas that may help at home:

• Stand up, slump down and drop your shoulders. How does your body make you feel? Now make a pose like Superman. What is different for you? Make some other poses that make you feel confident.

• Talk about some of the things that you love to do. Why are you good at them? How do you feel when you do those things? How do you solve any problems you encounter when you are doing something you love?

• What have you learned in your life by taking risks and making mistakes? How did you keep going when the going got tough?

• Go on a long walk or bike ride together where you are all pushed out of your comfort zones.

• Discuss challenges in your life that you have found difficult and how you overcame those challenges.

Remember, it’s okay to struggle because persistence and resilience are built from our struggles.

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow’. - Mary Anne Radmacher

Kind Regards,

Vanessa Moore  

Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator (MHWC)