Send us Fan Mail Resilience after domestic violence grows from daily rhythm, and Kirsten Bolton explains how she built hers. In Part 1 of this Reignite Resilience conversation, hosts Natalie Davis and Pamela Cass talk with Kirsten, an educator, mentor, and coach with more than 20 years of experience working with children, teachers, and school communities. Kirsten shares how she left an unsafe situation with a newborn and rebuilt a stable home for her daughter. Kirsten tells her story during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She returned to the United States after living in Ecuador, became pregnant, and found herself in an unsafe situation. When her daughter was two weeks old, Kirsten left under a 24 hour restraining order, which gave her one day to move out of her home. Her family and a few trusted people helped her through the first days, and she made a clear choice about how to spend the months ahead. Kirsten describes the practices she relied on. She wore her baby, gave herself the first eight months to focus on being a mother, and stayed in a camper at her parents’ house to find a steady pace. She returned to lessons from her grandmothers, starting with getting up each day and doing the dishes. Daily rhythm grew into weekly, monthly, and yearly traditions, which gave her daughter stability and gave Kirsten steady ground. She describes resilience as an organic process built on relationship and care, a view shaped in part by gardening. Natalie, Pam, and Kirsten talk through how to start from internal needs instead of external to-do lists, how to receive, rest, and then take initiative, and how this approach teaches a child self awareness. Kirsten’s teenage daughter now tells her when she skipped a meal and feels hangry. The three also discuss the masculine and feminine sides everyone carries, the ability to initiate and the ability to receive, and how embracing rest and wisdom with age supports resilience. Kirsten also introduces her work in education. She chairs the group that develops curriculum and mentors teachers at her school, holds a master’s degree in transdisciplinary studies and healing education and research, and founded the Grove Educational Council. She explains why the expertise of teachers often stays hidden in a culture built on power and hierarchy. In This Episode: How to rebuild stability after leaving domestic violence with a newbornWhy daily rhythm builds resilience for parents and childrenHow daily routines grow into weekly, monthly, and yearly traditionsHow to balance taking initiative with rest and receivingHow routine helps a child develop self awareness Support the show Subscribe to Our Weekly ThinkLetter Facebook Instagram Check out our Book Series: Meaningful Success: How Clarity and Alignment Drive Real Achievement The Quiet Gift: A Journey of Self Worth and Resilience Magical Mornings Journal Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The co-hosts of this podcast are not medical professionals. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided by the podcast hosts or guests is solely at your own risk. Pamela Cass is a licensed broker with Kentwood Real Estate Natalie Davis is a licensed ...
