Kathrynne (9) has been working really diligently on some difficult school projects recently. Projects that are requiring hours of work and concentration.
She’s learning perseverance, persistence, and patience. And, after a hard first few months of this homeschooling year, I’m so encouraged to see her applying herself and really finding fulfillment from her hard work.
This morning, as she headed off to get started on her school projects for the day, she said to me, “Mom, I figured it out: Don’t look your problems in the eye, punch them in the face.”
She went on to talk about how it’s so easy to get overwhelmed by problems and hard things in our life. We can sit there and stare at the problem — and feel defeated. But instead of sitting there and feeling discouraged because it’s hard, it’s so much better to just go punch it in the face.
What big things are looming over your head right now? A massive project at work? A big research paper for college? A huge house renovation project? 25 pounds you want to lose? A marathon you hope to train for? A large medical bill you need to pay off? A budget you want to create and stick with?
Whatever your big things are, don’t sit and worry about how you’re going to accomplish them. Don’t fret about how overwhelming they are. Don’t waste time agonizing over how difficult they might seem.
Start attacking them with gusto. Break them into bite-sized pieces and tackle each piece one-by-one. Don’t let yourself be overcome by the enormity of your problems or projects.
Get up and go punch them in the face.
So wise and cute at the same time!
Somebody kind of reminds me of her Mom! 🙂
😉 My husband often says, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!”
Cute! I like a little gal who calls it as she sees it!
This “punching your problem in the face” concept may resonate with my boys more than “eat that frog” which we have been saying. I’m going to have to share it with my eldest this morning. Thank your daughter for me!
I definitely will! I’m so grateful that you found it helpful!
I REALLY needed this this morning Crystal. Please thank Kathrynne for me! I’ve been feeling very discouraged for the last few weeks because we were hit with a huge tax bill, and because of an illness that’s been affecting my husband, our income dipped for a few months and he’s having to change the way he runs his business. We were making such awesome progress on his debt snowball. It’s so hard to be patient sometimes.
{Hugs!} I’m so sorry you’ve been hit with discouragement recently. 🙁
So much insight for a child. Sometimes I think they teach us more than we teach them!
Yes, so true!
Excellent analogy and advice!
Thank you for this! Unfortunately, I am 30 and just learning this, from my husband, instead of from my parents when I was 9 when it could have had many more opportunities to give me success. Way to go!
Ditto! But guess what, we’re better now than we were then, and we’ll be better women in years to come than we are now! Thank God for good husbands!
I find it very ironic that I came across this post seconds after closing my Kindle app. I was reading 10-Minute Time Management, which you announced as a free Amazon ebook last week. The author is basically saying the same thing your daughter said, although your daughter used a much more insightful approach (I love metaphors).
I thank God for opening my eyes to your website a couple weeks ago through a post on StacyMakesCents.com. You have inspired me in so many ways, and you need to hear that. Even if I’m the 500th person to say it this week, you need to know. Reading your testimony last week about how MSM was birthed encouraged me so! And I really needed it.
I wish you and your family well in every endeavor, especially because you are using your struggles and triumphs to help others learn to realize their potential and live better lives. God bless!
Thank you SO much for your kind encouragement! I’m very grateful! {Hugs!}
Thank you for sharing, Crystal and Kathrynne. Wise words to make us realize we need to get in gear and tackle whatever it is we are facing. At this time, for me, it’s a new health issue that is making me feel overwhelmed. But I’m going to take it step by step and punch it in the face with each of those steps 🙂 Thank you for the motivation and advice, Kathrynne 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Crystal. You have one wise daughter!
And I needed to hear this tonight – so thank you again!
Lea
I’m so grateful she gave me permission to share this post with you all as what she shared today really inspired me!
Would you mind sharing what curriculum you use for homeschooling? I am looking to switch but not sure what to go with, there are so many options.
This year, we’re using My Father’s World and Switched on Schoolhouse for our core curriculum… in addition to mix of some other things that we’re supplementing with. 🙂 We’re still exploring options for next year and deciding what will be best for each child.
I love hearing what other curriculum people use. I attend Classical Conversations and use it as my core, but I’m so thankful for all the choices available for homeschoolers! 🙂