Don’t Quit! Never Give Up!
I. Can’t. Do. It! My daughter emphasized each word by stabbing the paper with her pencil. Angrily she tossed her pencil down and started crying. She was frustrated. I waited as I quietly rubbed her back. She moved closer to me throwing her arms around my neck, sobbing.
Me: You can Aiyana you might need some help you can do it. You know the K that you are having problems writing?
Aiyana: Uh huh
Me: Well look at it this way K is sort of like a V turned on its side. (I drew a V on it’s side to demonstrate “<”. Mr. V get’s tired of sitting on his pointy behind all day Aiyana giggles so he occasionally lays on his side. The only thing is since his behind is so pointy (more giggles) he cannot lie down like you or me. He needs a special bed. That is where Mr. “I” comes along. You know what he looks like, right? Yeah! Well Mr. V parks his pointy behind right near the center of Mr. I’s back “I <” in doing so they make a “K”. Pretty sweet, huh?
Aiyana: Yes!!!
Me: Now you try and make that “K”.
Aiyana: Ok mommy, I’ll do it!
Me: You see! You made it! You see Aiyana you could do it all along, but you weren’t willing to listen to me because you convinced yourself that it could not be done, right?
Aiyana: Right mommy!
Me: Your mind is powerful use it to your advantage in doing so you will accomplish many things.
Aiyana: Ok mommy I’ll remember.
At times, people need a different approach to complete a task telling my daughter how to make a “K” the regular way wasn’t working because she had put up a block that she could not do it. Using a different approach made her forget that she couldn’t do something and she realized that she could.
In my life, I’ve encountered many people like my daughter. They are their own worst enemies. They’ve convinced themselves that they cannot do something. Guess what? It becomes self-fulfilling prophecy. The mind is extremely powerful it can work for or against you.
At times you need to use a different approach to achieve your goals. What might be “right” for one person might not work for you and that’s ok. I also learned its very important to think fast when dealing with a independent four year old! :wink:
Edited to add…
While visiting my blogging buddies virtual homes this morning I stumbled upon Thomas - Technical Blogger post it’s titled You Can -_Keep Moving Forward. Check it out. Oh by the way your post as been stumbled buddy.
Question: Have you even convinced yourself that you could not do something only to realize later that you could?
[tags]mind is powerful, overcoming fear, bonding, family[/tags]
on October 9th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Heh. I can totally relate here. Well, first, for my daughter and secondly, for myself. For the life of me I can’t remember an example of how I have helped her break through her doubt but it was something similar, something that lightened her up and helped put her to ease and then engage her mind a bit different and then the sudden breakthrough. Cute story. As for myself, I need someone to do that for me.
on October 9th, 2007 at 8:49 am
:smile: (forgot the smiley)
on October 9th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Beth,
Yeah my little one always has me thinking outside the box. In that way my daughter is a lot like me when it comes to how I believe she will tackle things. Her approach will be different. I see it in so many aspects of her life already. We all need someone to help us view things differently. :wink:
on October 9th, 2007 at 10:19 am
Loved this post. It is so true when we are feelingat our wits’ end that we see no way out and put up a block. That’s when it really is nice to have a different perspective or just be able to step away and come back with a fresh viewpoint. I need to start reminding myself of this because sometimes there isn’t someone around to help me straighten my head out like this. ;)
on October 9th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I would try and convince myself by chanting, “I know I can. I know I can.” But every time I would fall to the ground after leaping off the couch when trying to fly.
And that’s when these nice guys in white brought me a neat kind of jacket and gave me a soft room to stay in. :p
Heh heh. couldn’t resist. But that was a nice story.
on October 9th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
teeni,
I agree . It’s something that is always in the back of my mind.
MacBros,
..so you’re going to pick up where Tom Cruise left off, right?
I thought you already stayed in a padded room? You’re barking mad, remember? :lol:
;-)
on October 9th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Oh yes I have lots of times! I qont share it but yes that has happened!
on October 9th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
wont
on October 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Nicely said. Good thing I read this post, it was a great reminder. Thanks Opal!
on October 9th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
i agree, that is a great post :wink:
on October 9th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
This is great advice- I can’t tell you how often I get extremely frustrated to point of almost giving up, and then I use a different approach and the problem solves itself. Thanks for sharing the wisdom!
on October 9th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
What a great teacher…what a great mom you are!!! ;)
on October 9th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
Hello - found your site through WarriorBlog.net
I really like the image of the frog! :smile:
My wife is a vegetarian, so I’ll definitely give her this url.
on October 9th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
I agree with Harmonia…you are a wonderful teacher! I need to take this approach with myself so I can use it with my kids…I always learn so much when I visit you! lol!!
on October 10th, 2007 at 3:20 am
I am unsure what happened to my earlier comment.
It is great that you were willing to sit down and explain what Aiyana was having trouble with. I can understand her frustration at working on something that is not going well, I still have problems with that myself.
Nicole periodically uses “I can’t” and it takes great effort on my part, to stay calm and try to work her around that kind of thinking. Usually if she tells me “she can’t” I tell her she is right, she can’t. When she is ready to figure it out, I will be happy to work on it with her.
on October 10th, 2007 at 3:21 am
And thanks for the link and the stumble.
on October 10th, 2007 at 4:00 am
Thank you for sharing your “visual storytelling method.” From now on I will never forget this when I write the letter ‘K’!
on October 14th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
:razz: That was a good illustration of being a gritty. Thanks for the reminder.
on October 19th, 2007 at 9:45 am
[...] original. :wink: At Times You Need A Different Approach Just like the post I wrote last week Don’t Quit! Never Give Up! I realized that I needed to follow my own advice. I had to approach the maintenance I was doing [...]
on August 26th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Hehe what a cute story. I use to be in track and field in high school and was in the long jump event. I never got the form right so I was always feeling down. My coach told me to just believe and run the form through my head. My coach also put a little hurdle bar in front of the pit so I have to jump high or else I would fall. I ran the form and what I was taught through my head a few times. And finally decided to go, I made it and set the high school record on my last track and field meet. I guess if you just believe in yourself many things can happen! So don’t quit and never give up!