I Can Do Hard Things

I can do hard things! (A poem by a third grader)

Some things at school are easy for me but there are sometimes a couple hard things in every subject that I do . 

When I am working on something I understand, I feel calm and proud and in control. 

When a hard thing happens in school, my heart starts to beat a little faster, my head nods downward, and my eyes can fill with tears. I feel frustrated or overwhelmed. 

It’s okay if something is difficult. Everybody has things that are easy for them to do and things that are more challenging for them to do. 

When something is difficult, I can tell myself, “I can try this. I can do hard things.” I’m impressed by myself when I work through something that is a challenge. 

When I am stuck or confused, I can ask my teacher or a friend for help. It’s always okay to ask for help. Everyone needs help at different times. 

When I feel frustrated or overwhelmed I can take three deep breaths to calm my body down. I can do my Box Breathing to take three deep breaths. 

Sometimes three deep breaths may not be enough to calm down. I may need to ask my teacher, can I take a break? Then, I can do something else for three minutes to give my brain a break. 

After a break, I will feel more calm. I can try to do my work again. I can decide if I need a teacher or a friend to help me get back on track. I’ll remind myself, “It’s okay to be overwhelmed, I can handle it”