As I watched Alex Honnold free-solo climb the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper—without ropes or safety equipment—I found myself gasping, holding my breath in sheer disbelief. The bravery, focus, and discipline required seemed almost beyond human capacity. I couldn’t help but wonder: What kind of mental training, not to mention physical preparation, does it take to achieve something like this?
Yet what struck me most was not just the climb itself, but Honnold’s response when he was asked in an interview what he found most challenging in life. His answer was simple and unexpected: parenting.
Here was a man who had scaled sheer cliff faces alone, including El Capitan, describing parenting as his greatest challenge. It was a powerful reminder that while some people climb mountains or skyscrapers, many of us face an equally demanding and meaningful climb every day—raising children.
Parenting involves guiding little (and not-so-little) humans who come with their own personalities, emotions, interests, and strong spirits. There is no fixed route, no safety harness, and no single right way—just daily decisions made with love, patience, and hope. Like any serious climb, it requires preparation, support, and the ability to keep going when the path becomes steep or uncertain.At the beginning of this year, we were privileged as educators to participate in a professional learning session with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading Australian child and adolescent psychologist. He spoke powerfully about growth, authenticity, and resilience, reminding us that “the wellbeing of today’s young people has never been more challenged”.
Resilience, he explained, is one of the key indicators that helps children and teenagers navigate life successfully. It is the human capacity to face adversity, overcome it, grow stronger through it, and sometimes even be transformed by it. We want resilience for our children not so that life becomes easy, but so they are equipped to climb the mountains that their lives will place before them—academic pressure, friendships, failure, change, loss, and uncertainty.
According to Dr Carr-Gregg, there are five key characteristics that support resilience in children and young people:
If we want to raise resilient children, we need understanding, shared language, and practical tools to help us support young people through challenge, change, and growth. Parenting does not come with a manual, and no one is expected to navigate the harder seasons alone. When schools and families work together, children are far better equipped to develop the strength, confidence, and perseverance they need to keep climbing.We may never climb physical mountains or scale skyscrapers, but parenting can feel like a mountain climb in its own right—steep, exhausting, unpredictable, and yet deeply rewarding.
The Bible reminds us where to turn when the climb feels overwhelming: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1–2
As we watch others do extraordinary things, may we remember that the everyday work of parenting and educating children is extraordinary too. With wisdom, support, faith, and resilience, we can continue the climb—together.
Mrs Marsha Kosmeier
Assistant Head of Primary
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