My 13 year old daughter has been studying for an upcoming History test. She is studying the Industrial Revolution. The information is very interesting and she has been doing beautifully in quickly remembering what she will need for her test. Her studying has been going quite smoothly over the past several days, at a quick pace.
Last night we started on a new Section 3, regarding Nationalism and Sectionalism. Our quick paced studying came to a screeching halt. We we discussing President's Madison and Monroe and the Era of Good Feelings. And, we were reading about Henry Clay's American System and the Monroe Doctrine, as well as the Missouri Compromise.
My daughter suddenly hit a wall and had a complete mental block. We reviewed the info over and over and she still was not grasping it (or she had taken her brain out of her head). She was not getting it at all.
"What's up Sam," I asked her. "You breezed through the last two sections in no time."
"It's history Mom. I just really don't like History! Besides, this is the hard stuff!"
Hmmm, I thought. "Well you had no problem with the first 2 sections, at all. You memorized those in no time. But, then you hit Section 3 and I lost you. You're not focused. If you made an attempt at it, it wouldn't be so hard!"
"I'm tired, Mom," she replied.
Interesting as this is my daughter that gets up 3-4 mornings a week and is in the gym at 5:45 exercising. Her life is like a whirlwind. She tries to join every single activity she can. I have to remind her to go to bed at night. Otherwise she wouldn't sleep! This teenage doesn't get tired (until she's studying for History).
It made me wonder. Was it really the "hard" stuff? Or was it that she just chose to "shut down" and not make the effort to memorize the info?
Is this any different than many other people? When it's time to learn or to do the "hard stuff" they don't have time 
to make the effort.
They shut down.
They get a mental block.
They tell themselves they just can't do it.
Is this the "easy" way out?
I have to admit, I remember doing it in school, at times, when I hit a "hard" subject.
We wrapped it up for the night, as we were making no headway at all. Tonight, it's time for her to put her brain back in her head and "get focused".
I have been telling my girls since they were 2 years old, "If you say you can't do it, then you can't!"
Everyone of us, in our lives, at one time or another have hit a wall when we reached the "hard stuff". If we learned to properly deal with it, get focused and trudge through it, we would see that it would make it easier the next time around. Dealing with the "hard stuff" builds character. And it allows you to be proud of your accomplishments.
Not dealing with it at all is a cop out.
This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Brevard County Real Estate
that for you
Sandy, Dealing with the hard stuff builds a "TON" of character. Please have her read this message. Have a great day Sandy!
Hi Tony, I couldn't agree with you more! I like that you reiterated that so much, that I changed the title of the post!
I agree the hard stuff does make us stronger! Thanks for sharing!
All the Best!
Hi Kathy, It's the hard stuff that teaches us the most important lessons in life!
Sandy, mental blocks CAN pop up. If you're heart is not into it with the head it just is not easy to soak in. You also could need a breather from it too.
Sandy,
Sounds like she will do fine. She just needs to take a break and rest. I always found history easier when I wrote the important items down.
Ann Hayden still enduring the freezing rain in Wildwood, Missouri
Hi Sandy, Sam is smart, she'll get it. :-)
Sandy, maybe it is like parts of real estate that some agents don't like or understand at first. If you can put the material in the context of why it is important to know or how things would be different today if they hadn't occurred, it might help. Just a thought.
Sandy - You are absolutely right about the hard stuff. I've gone through some difficult times in my life, but the lessons learned from the experiences were irreplaceable. I'm glad I went through it - BUT I'd never want to do it again!
Sandy, I learned long ago to always tackle my hard tasks first in a day, pretty soon the hard stuff doesn't feel that bad. I'm still a character though...
You make a good point. It sounds like your very involved in your children's schooling which is awesome lots of parents don't even bother to put in the time. One thing that always helped me in history was just to think of the whole thing as a story.
Update: Sam and I studied together again, last night. We went straight to Section 3, Nationalism and Sectionalism and she hammered it and no time! I asked her what happened the night before and she told me she just didn't really feel like studying. Gotta luv teenagers!
Gary, So very true. Mental blocks can and do pop up. You're absolutely right -sometimes it's best to just step away for awhile.
Ann, Great idea! That's what her teacher encourages, right it down on note cards. Thanks!
Miss Mary, She is and she did! She did an incredible job with it last night!
Hi Rich, I starting sing-songing the information to her. She was about to die at first, and we laughed and laughed and then she started remembering the rhymning songs I was singing.
Myrl, Oh you are are so correct - it's the hardest lessons that we learn, that stick with us.
Paul, I agree, you are a character... good idea...I wish they could get some of their hard stuff done early, but with school, after school activites...I really feel for these kids sometimes.
Justin, Great idea. I was drawing little stick figures and singing. We were laughing so hard that it didn't feel like work anymore and she did beautifully!
Sandy,
You are welcome. Tell her not to sweat the small stuff. She will do fine.
Ann Hayden going out to play in the snow...
Hi Ann, Thanks. I am seeing a big transistion in her this year -8th grade - I remember my other daughter going through the same exact thing at that age.
Sandy,
She will get through it. Life seems so tramatic at this stage. Everything seems big when in fact it is all little. Perspective is a wonderful thing.
Ann Hayden in sunny Wildwood, Missouri