mom next door Meet Julie Buck
will often surprise you with their resilience if you just let them try. After years of worrying about what was ahead and around the corner, Buck says she’s learned to just trust the process and the journey. “Stay in the moment and honor the child right in front of you. When you parent from your values—remaining consistent, warm, and firm—your children don’t just grow; they thrive,” says Buck. Living in Colorado, she says, has been a playground for her family. The sheer variety of environments, from the peaks of the Rockies to the hidden gems across the state, provides endless opportunities for her family to connect with nature. Buck adds that it’s a place that naturally encourages the kind of active, outdoor lifestyle her family values most. Rapid Fire Questions Favorite date night… A yummy meal at a favorite restaurant and a concert or sports event! Words that best describe your family… Sporty and funny Favorite genre of movie or television shows… Horror and comedy Favorite food… Nachos or buffalo wings
Occupation: Middle school teacher, tutor, and family coach Children: Two sons Hobbies: Skiing, traveling, eques- trianism, going to concerts, and being outdoors
BY AMELIA ROESSLER
J ulie Buck is a mother of two sons who lives with her husband and their two dogs and two cats in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. She describes herself as a lifelong educator and advocate for children, while also wearing many different hats— doula, parent educator, consultant, school director, and even a car seat technician—all of which feed into her current work as a mid- dle school teacher, tutor, and family coach. A teacher since 1999, Buck has worked with everyone from toddlers to middle schoolers. Her philosophy is deeply rooted in fostering independence and observing the child. Buck’s family life is defined by movement and shared experiences. You can find her at the baseball field cheering on her sons, or with her family skiing, traveling, or gathered around the fire pit. She says she also has a deep-seated hope to return to the stables soon, as she was a collegiate equestrian. “Personally, I am an outdoor enthusiast—I love the beach, exercising, and walking with
my dogs,” says Buck. “To unwind, I’m a huge fan of live energy, whether that’s at a concert, a sports event, or a comedy club; I also have a bit of a penchant for horror movies.” She says the hardest part of parenting is often the internal work and learning to sep- arate her own fears or judgements so they don’t cloud her children’s experiences. “I’ve had to learn how to stay in my own lane, especially regarding their sports, and let them drive their own paths. But the payoff is extraordinary. There is no greater joy than watching them flourish and become the people they are meant to be,” explains Buck. The best piece of advice she says she ever received was to play. Be present. Let them fail. “Let them take age appropriate risks. Children are unique and resilient,” Buck emphasizes. For other parents, Buck suggests pausing and observing before stepping in. She adds that fostering independence is vital, and children
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Stay in the moment and honor the child right in front of you. When you parent from your values—remaining consistent, warm, and firm —your children don’t just grow; they thrive.
12 COLORADO PARENT JUNE 2026
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