9 Moms Share The Moments When They Felt Truly Resilient

As a mom, you become stronger each and every day. Encourage your kids to keep learning, keep trying, and #KeepBuilding with LEGO bricks.

1. When I learned to accept things with grace.

“I'm a special-needs ‘warrior’ mom. My son Max is 4 and was diagnosed with severe ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) at 2. Although I thought he was perfect, I knew something was a little ‘off.’ When we got the diagnosis I wasn't shocked or upset at all; I took it in stride, met it head-on, and was ready for the challenge.

“Predicting meltdowns, reading his expressions and body language... I'm always prepared. My whole body warms up when he meets a milestone that parents to non-ASD children may take for granted, like eye contact with his big blue eyes, drinking out of a cup, washing his hands, or a genuine laugh with his knockout smile. These moments are what make my own anxiety disappear.”

—Shaunna

2. When he realized his own superpowers.

“I just took my 10-year-old son, Tyler, to do archery, one of my hobbies. He was a little intimidated at first; the arrows were sharp and a bit scary for a kid, but I told him I would never put him in harm’s way and to trust me. We worked on safety and form all morning and did some target practice. He kept getting down on himself, saying he would never be any good at it. I told him that I had felt the same way when I first started and that we had the rest of his life to get good at it if he felt he needed the help. We kept going until dusk, and before we left he got his first bull's-eye.

“I never felt prouder or happier than when he hugged me and told me he couldn't have done it without all the encouragement I gave him.”

—Bianca

3. When I realized I really can do this alone.

“Being a single mother, I sometimes second-guess my decisions. But I remember last year, when Farrah was in Pre-K, I dropped her off for school one morning and I stopped to read the things the teacher had posted up on the wall of the class. There were different sections: the weather, your favorite thing, what the kids learned this week, and an art section. EVERY SINGLE section that Farrah did was about me. Weather: ‘It was sunny today, and my mom took me to the park.’ Your favorite thing: ‘the doll my mom got for me.’ What I learned this week: ‘My mom showed me how to ride my scooter.’ Art: a picture of her and I baking a cake.

“I remember feeling all the validation in the world that I was doing things right, all by myself. And if no one else was noticing or telling me, Farrah was.”

—Francheska

4. When I showed him what determination looks like.

“We were at a big pro basketball game, and the team stopped autographing basketballs right before my son Brett got a chance to get one. When he came back and told me this, I grabbed his basketball and marched right up to one of the featured players and held that ball up to him, and he signed it for my little guy! I felt like the best mom ever.”

—Jody

5. When I realized I’ve become the person who sets the example I want my kids to see.

“I was walking my son through the Texas Capitol Building one day. I'd just gotten my job, and I was explaining to him what it means to work hard for your goals. How I had no regrets about taking time off to raise him because I saw him as my motivation. How I've had to persevere over people who told me to give up, who told me I was too old to go back to school, that I wasn't smart or clever enough. Today, I can say I proved them wrong, but more importantly I proved I could be someone my boy could look up to.

“We were standing in the rotunda where all the past Texas governors’ portraits hang, and he said, ‘How much longer until they hang your picture here too?’ I never felt stronger or more sure than in that moment, because I knew he believed in me.”

—Pam

6. When I invested time where it was most needed.

“I oftentimes think we don't realize we've been strong or resilient until long after getting through an event that required it. Getting my daughter diagnosed for her inattentive ADD, subsequently finding the right treatment, and seeing the resulting improvement in her life and our family life made me feel like a powerhouse. Researching this relatively mysterious brain disorder, navigating the various forms of medical and holistic treatment, and dealing with societal misconceptions was quite an exercise in resiliency. As trying as those years were, it left me realizing my strength once on the other side!”

—Maureen

7. When I remembered my strength as a person.

“I am a resilient mom because I’m tested every day as a person. How can I not have a positive outlook on life? I am someone's mentor. I'm not perfect, but neither is my wonderful 26-year-old daughter, so shouldn't I forgive an imperfection?

“I make sure I am well fed and well rested. How can I care for another person if I can't take care of myself?

“I am flexible. I have to be.”

—Marylynn

8. When I literally kept my kid out of harm’s way.

“When we were living in Vienna and on a family bike ride one day, we were suddenly faced with a steep downhill. I, being more of a daredevil than my husband, said, ‘Let’s go for it!’ So as we all descended down the hill, I suddenly heard our son screaming that he couldn't brake. The steep hill led to a highway with cars whizzing by. At that point I pedaled ahead, jumped off my bike, and stood in front of my son’s bike so I could stop him before he tumbled onto the highway. A parent does what they have to do to keep their kids safe! (Also had macho bragging rights for a while!)”

—Barbara

9. When I took the tough hand I was dealt and won the game.

“For me, it was when my husband was deployed and I had to tackle everything alone. I had to deal with all parenting tasks for our daughters while still dealing with my college courses. I never thought I could make it and thought I'd for sure just survive on the bare minimum, but somehow I flourished. I actually think I handled things better on my own, which was a huge, huge eye-opener for me. It helped crush years and years of crippling self-doubt and be an even better mom for my girls.”

—CiCi

Illustrations by Marjan Farsad © BuzzFeed

Building a sense of resilience within your child can happen during playtime; LEGO bricks are the fun tools for building big ideas.