I hasn’t been easy, living a life riddled with social stigma fromnothing they did wrong—the secrecy, the shame, the judgement from other kids and even teachers. Aside from what people think comes the real issue of how they feel. Instability can be overwhelming to anyone, with changes to living arrangements and serious financial hardship.

They are forced to grow up fast. They seem to skillfully juggle the challenges and adapt quickly to a new environment. Certainly all kids can be resilient at times, but their set of challenges grooms them to handle complex situations with grace. Perhaps they are in early training for a career in emergency response and recovery.

However, experts agree that resilience doesn't mean children are unaffected. The experience is considered an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) that can lead to toxic stress, grief, and attachment loss. Uncertainty about the future and the trauma of separation, such as witnessing an arrest, can cause anxiety, depression and behavioral stress. Even though they develop effective coping skills, they still face profound stress. While many adapt and navigate these complex situations, they require strong support systems to process the trauma and avoid long-term emotional, social, or behavioral challenges.