Benefits of Challenges

"The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties." Abigail Adams

When I watched the Ken Burns documentary on John Adams, I was struck by how smart and wise Abigail was.  So often making her decisions alone, she chose to have herself and her children immunized with cow pox, still an experimental practice, so that they would not get smallpox during the epidemic.  We can see this so often:  vigorous and courageous minds are born in contending with difficulties.  As caregivers we will contend with difficulties.  Let us remember that we, too, are building vigorous minds in dealing with these difficulties.