34: Memorial Stones - Building Resilience in Kids During Life's Transitions

Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

Remember that time when life suddenly shifted beneath your feet? Maybe it was a cross-country move, a new job, or an unexpected loss. Now imagine experiencing that as a child, without the emotional vocabulary or life experience to process it.
Transitions are inevitable in family life. As parents, we're entrusted not just with navigating these changes ourselves, but with guiding our children through them with grace and wisdom. Drawing from my experiences as a military spouse who moves every few years, I share how even well-prepared children struggle with change.
Children sense when change is coming, often resulting in behavioral challenges as they process confusing emotions. Rather than shielding them from these transitions, we can engage them in age-appropriate conversations that acknowledge their feelings while pointing to unchanging truths. When we had to change our daughter's school shortly after moving to California, including her in our discussions helped her not only accept the change but recognize God working through it. Her own words—"Mom, I think God is closing the door to this school"—reflected a spiritual maturity born from being invited into our family's discernment process.
Scripture offers powerful anchors during transitions. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"—a comforting truth when everything else feels unfamiliar. The biblical stories of Abraham leaving everything behind and the Israelites setting up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan provide templates for faithful responses to change. By keeping a "journal of evidence" documenting God's faithfulness in previous transitions, we create tangible reminders our families can revisit during future changes.
How might you use your family's next transition as an opportunity for discipleship? Instead of simply saying "kids are resilient," consider how you can intentionally help them cultivate that resilience by modeling trust in God's unchanging character amidst life's inevitable changes.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!
Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik
If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!
Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!
Red Aspen - Skip the salon appointment and shop here for hands that are hardworking AND elegant.
Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again.

Chapters

1. 34: Memorial Stones - Building Resilience in Kids During Life's Transitions (00:00:00)

2. The Inevitability of Change (00:01:40)

3. Military Family Transitions (00:02:29)

4. Jesus Christ Remains the Same (00:04:36)

5. School Change and Family Decision (00:06:00)

6. Including Children in the Journey (00:09:48)

7. Abraham's Story of Faithful Transition (00:11:16)

8. Building Resilience Through Remembrance (00:12:38)