For parents and their children, summer is not only a break from the school year, but a sacred opportunity. The structure of daily classes gives way to looser schedules. Mornings slow down. Homework and tests fade into the background. And yet, within this open space lies one of the most powerful chances we have all year: the chance to help our children grow into stronger, more resilient human beings.

Resilience does not come from ease. It is cultivated in moments of difficulty, uncertainty and growth. Children become resilient when they face challenges, try and fail and try again. During the academic year, the focus is often on achievement and structure. But summer offers something different. It offers the possibility for deeper internal growth. It is a time when children can become more courageous, more self-reliant and more capable of handling life’s inevitable ups and downs.

This process does not require expensive camps, elaborate travel plans or highly curated schedules. In fact, resilience is often forged in ordinary, imperfect moments. A child cracks an egg into pancake batter and drops part of the shell in. A friend cancels a playdate. A backyard soccer game ends in tears over a scraped knee and a missed goal.

These small moments........

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