What Island Life Taught Me About Raising Resilient Kids

Exploring the unique experience of raising kids on an island adds a whole new dimension to family life.

When you’re raising a family on an island in Maine, life doesn’t follow a typical script. We live off-grid on Birch Island, home to Attean Lake Lodge, where we run our seasonal business and raise our children with a little grit, a lot of love, and plenty of fresh air. Raising kids on an island definitely brings unique experiences.

People often ask what it’s like raising kids in a place you can only reach by boat. Having kids grow up on an island brings truth—it’s challenging, beautiful, chaotic, and grounding—all at the same time. And through it all, I’ve learned some lessons that have shaped the way I parent and live.

Here are five of the biggest ones:

1. Boredom Isn’t the Enemy—it’s a Teacher

Out here, we don’t have tablets at the ready or a quick trip to Target for distractions. And that’s exactly where the magic starts. Our kids have learned to entertain themselves—with sticks, mud, driftwood, and their imaginations. On an island, where raising kids means limited technology, boredom becomes a creative teacher. Watching them invent worlds from what nature offers has reminded me how little kids truly need to thrive.

2. Nature Is the Best Teacher

There’s no better science class than watching a loon dive underwater or learning to identify animal tracks in the mud. Our kids have learned the rhythms of nature without textbooks—when the berries are ripe, when the lake ice goes out, when the moose tend to wander nearby. Raising children on an island means they’re tuned in in a way I never was growing up in a more conventional setting.

3. Self-Reliance Starts Young

On Birch Island, everyone pitches in. Our kids help haul laundry, rake trails, carry groceries off the boat, and sometimes even greet guests. Raising kids here means early self-reliance; they’ve learned that they’re capable, and they take real pride in being part of what makes our island life work. When you live in a place where “just running out” isn’t an option, problem-solving becomes second nature.

4. Community Doesn’t Have to Be Big to Be Strong

We may not have a neighborhood in the traditional sense, but we have a tight-knit crew of family, staff, and summer guests who return year after year. Our kids learn how to connect across generations, make friends with strangers, and find kinship in unexpected places. Raising kids on an island creates a different kind of social life—but one rooted in deep connection.

5. The Quiet Moments Are Everything

There’s a stillness on the lake at sunset, when the air is warm and the world slows down. We’ve rocked babies to sleep on porches, told stories by candlelight, and shared marshmallows under starlit skies. These moments are easy to overlook in a busy world, but here on the island, they’re our daily rhythm—and they matter more than I can say.

Raising kids on an island isn’t glamorous, and it’s definitely not always easy—but it’s real. An island upbringing involves unique challenges, but it’s beautiful. Barefoot on Birch Island, we’re growing together—muddy feet, messy hair, full hearts and all.

Thanks for stepping into our world.