Teaching our Kids to Bounce Back (Even When the Cake Flops)

Every day, things don’t go our way.

We wake up early but still don’t finish our to-do list. We look forward to a coffee with a friend, only for them to cancel. We plan a fun day with the kids, and then it rains—or someone gets sick, or everyone’s just in a mood.

As adults, we’ve learned (mostly) how to adapt, adjust, and carry on. But for kids, these everyday disruptions can feel much bigger—and much harder to process.

That’s what led me to write Finding Magic, a children’s book about two sisters learning how to handle those little moments of disappointment with imagination, flexibility, and heart... As a mother and someone who’s worked in education and social impact for over a decade, I’ve often asked: Why don’t we talk more about resilience with kids?

We teach them how to say please and thank you. We teach sharing and counting and phonics. But do we teach them what to do when their day doesn't go as planned? When the swing is wet, or their favorite book is out of stock, or the cake gets ruined?

That’s the world of Finding Magic—a whimsical but grounded story about navigating disappointments with imagination. One sister, Mia, embraces the magic stone wholeheartedly. The other, Ava, is skeptical—especially when her wishes don’t “work.” But as the story unfolds, Ava realizes the stone isn’t broken. It’s just showing her how to look inward.

One of my favorite parts of the story is when the girls return home to find their mom feeling deflated. Her big cake order has gone wrong, and she’s ready to give up. But Ava, newly inspired, makes a wish—not to fix the situation, but to find a way to cheer her mom up. What follows is a new recipe, a burst of creativity, and a heartwarming reminder that even flops can become magic.

For me, that’s parenting in a nutshell. It’s not about eliminating obstacles. It’s about helping kids develop the mindset and tools to bounce back. To pause, reflect, adapt—and maybe even laugh.

Through Finding Magic, I’m sure the author Arshiya Jhunjhnuwala wanted to write something that goes beyond a typical “moral of the story.” Something fun, but emotionally intelligent. That’s why the book was shaped not just by the author’s own experiences, but also through focus groups with parents, and reviewed by a child psychologist to ensure its message was developmentally sound.

If there’s one thing I hope parents take away from Finding Magic, it’s that we don’t need to protect our children from every bump in the road. We just need to show them how to spot the sparkle.

Because even when the cake flops, there’s always a new recipe waiting to be discovered.

If this story resonates with you, you might enjoy reading Finding Magic with your own little ones. It’s a gentle reminder—for both kids and grown-ups—that how we feel is something we can shape, with a little creativity and a lot of heart.

You can learn more about the book and its activities here, or follow along on Instagram & Facebook for behind-the-scenes peeks and mindset tips for families.