--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some time ago, my son Emilio was going…" description: "\"“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled with anxiety. To him, the approac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png" --- # Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school… ![“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled with anxiety. To him, the approach of school days was like a monster that threatened him and wanted to squash him. What is a parent supposed to do? I tried to lift his spirits, to…” quote by Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png) > ““Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled with anxiety. To him, the approach of school days was like a monster that threatened him and wanted to squash him. What is a parent supposed to do? I tried to lift his spirits, to distract him, convince him it was not as bad as it seemed, but in vain. Then I hit upon the idea of offering him something that is almost taboo in our family: French fries at a fast-food place. Usually anything that is prohibited appeals to Emilio, especially junk food. I thought I had the ace up my sleeve. But no. Emilio's reply ought to be chiseled in stone: "Dad, you don't solve problems with french fries." Touche. You don't pretend problems do not exist, and you can't solve them with ephemeral distractions. You have to face them with open-eyed honesty. Offering French fries to my son in order to console and distract him from his anxiety was by no means a kind act. I was simply choosing the easier option--far too easy. I had found a comfortable way out.”” [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distractions like junk food don’t solve deep anxiety; honest engagement is needed. **In simple terms:** Quick fixes don’t address real problems. Key Takeaway Face issues directly, not with shortcuts. Themes parenting anxiety honesty Mood empathetic reflective Type advice parenting When to use this quote - talking with anxious children - setting boundaries - teaching coping skills Key Concepts behavioral psychology family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What honest strategies can replace quick fixes? - How to balance empathy with realistic expectations? A Different Perspective Distractions may temporarily soothe but can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Junk food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junk-food/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Validation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/validation/) ## Related quotes > [We cannot pretend we do not have problems; we cannot pretend things are not wrong in our country. A lot of things are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-madikizela-mandela/we-cannot-pretend-we-do-not-have-problems-we-cannot-pretend-things/) [Winnie Madikizela-Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winnie-madikizela-mandela/) > [I had four children, we all had to struggle to get up and get educated, and they all did their part, and we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-forster/i-had-four-children-we-all-had-to-struggle-to-get-up-and-get-educated/) [Robert Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-forster/) > [“I have these worksheets. They're great for the irregular verbs..." "Not today." He shot me a look and kept shuffling papers. "Okay," I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/i-have-these-worksheets-they-re-great-for-the-irregular-verbs-not/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“You Are What You Eat Take food for example. We all assume that our craving or disgust is due to something about the food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-what-you-eat-take-food-for-example-we-all-assume-that-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t worry,” he said letting me go and adding a brownie and chocolate milk to my tray. “All they see is me fucking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/don-t-worry-he-said-letting-me-go-and-adding-a-brownie-and-chocolate/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) > [“Let’s face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lederer/let-s-face-it-english-is-a-crazy-language-there-is-no-egg-in-eggplant/) [Richard Lederer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lederer/) > [“How Is It Packaged? Packaging refers to what products and services are sold together. For example, years ago McDonald’s noticed that many customers ordered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-cheng/how-is-it-packaged-packaging-refers-to-what-products-and-services-are/) [Victor Cheng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-cheng/) > [I'm a vegan, but you can be really unhealthy as a vegan, too. Vegan just means that you don't use animal products, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/i-m-a-vegan-but-you-can-be-really-unhealthy-as-a-vegan-too-vegan-just/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I was ecstatic when they re-named "French fries" as "freedom fries." Grown men and women in positions of power in the U.S. government showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-was-ecstatic-when-they-re-named-french-fries-as-freedom-fries-grown/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Even if I'm eating healthy, I let myself indulge with french fries. That's my favorite thing. You only live once!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mara/even-if-i-m-eating-healthy-i-let-myself-indulge-with-french-fries/) [Kate Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mara/) > [“Then, suddenly, a shadowy flash came to me. Tiffany, taking an order, arguing with a girl. Shockingly, not me. Another flash, of Detective Toscano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrington/then-suddenly-a-shadowy-flash-came-to-me-tiffany-taking-an-order/) [Kim Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrington/) > [I like food too much to go on some crazy diet. French fries are my favorite downfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/i-like-food-too-much-to-go-on-some-crazy-diet-french-fries-are-my/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [“Maddi glared at him. "Thats why your not built like Alden. French fries." Race laughed. "Id love to look like Alden. Hot female speakers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lindsey/maddi-glared-at-him-thats-why-your-not-built-like-alden-french-fries/) [Mary Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lindsey/) > [The problem is that we let special-occasion food become everyday food. That goes for soda and french fries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/the-problem-is-that-we-let-special-occasion-food-become-everyday-food/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“Eddie saw great things and near misses. Albert Einstein as a child, not quite struck by a run-away milk-wagon as he crossed a street.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/eddie-saw-great-things-and-near-misses-albert-einstein-as-a-child-not/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More by Piero Ferrucci > [Psychosynthesis brings the matter to a point of extreme simplicity, seeing the self as the most elementary and distinctive part of our beings -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/psychosynthesis-brings-the-matter-to-a-point-of-extreme-simplicity/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Being kind is the simplest way to become who we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/being-kind-is-the-simplest-way-to-become-who-we-really-are/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [How often-even before we began-have we declared a task 'impossible'? And how often have we construed a picture of ourselves as being inadequate?...A great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/how-often-even-before-we-began-have-we-declared-a-task-impossible-and/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The transition from rebellion to acceptance has an extremely important consequence. . . in which we start seeing life as a training school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-transition-from-rebellion-to-acceptance-has-an-extremely/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Something similar happens on the other side of the equation: Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it. . . . The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/something-similar-happens-on-the-other-side-of-the-equation-giving/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The factors that contributed to my growth were many - finding someone who understood me, exploring the unconscious, awakening my latent love . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-factors-that-contributed-to-my-growth-were-many-finding-someone/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/eliminate-something-superfluous-from-your-life-break-a-habit-do/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [To act honestly- even at the risk of saying the unpleasant truth, or of saying no and causing distress to others- if done with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/to-act-honestly-even-at-the-risk-of-saying-the-unpleasant-truth-or-of/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We can proceed according to the planned itinerary, strenuously trying to make life conform to our needs, or we can adapt to whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-can-proceed-according-to-the-planned-itinerary-strenuously-trying/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Inspiration comes whenever it wants, even at the most unlikely times and in the most inappropriate situations. Often it arrives bit by bit. Therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/inspiration-comes-whenever-it-wants-even-at-the-most-unlikely-times/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [In trusting, we let ourselves go. We know that all kinds of unexpected events may come our way. Our tension eases, our mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/in-trusting-we-let-ourselves-go-we-know-that-all-kinds-of-unexpected/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The word humility (also human) is derived from the Latin humus, meaning the soil. Perhaps this is not simply because it entails stooping and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-word-humility-also-human-is-derived-from-the-latin-humus-meaning/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We are used to thinking in terms of what we can teach our children. Maybe we need to ask ourselves what we may learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-are-used-to-thinking-in-terms-of-what-we-can-teach-our-children/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. It is labored courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it-is-no-longer-kindness-it-is/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. We need gradually to develop a steering ability to keep ourselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-must-be-joined-by-mastery-we/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) [Explore all 26 Piero Ferrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled with anxiety. To him, the approach of school days was like a monster that threatened him and wanted to squash him. What is a parent supposed to do? I tried to lift his spirits, to distract him, convince him it was not as bad as it seemed, but in vain. Then I hit upon the idea of offering him something that is almost taboo in our family: French fries at a fast-food place. Usually anything that is prohibited appeals to Emilio, especially junk food. I thought I had the ace up my sleeve. But no. Emilio's reply ought to be chiseled in stone: \"Dad, you don't solve problems with french fries.\" Touche. You don't pretend problems do not exist, and you can't solve them with ephemeral distractions. You have to face them with open-eyed honesty. Offering French fries to my son in order to console and distract him from his anxiety was by no means a kind act. I was simply choosing the easier option--far too easy. I had found a comfortable way out.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Piero Ferrucci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c50/piero-ferrucci-22893_anxiety_some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-ba_617504.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and…” — Piero Ferrucci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Piero Ferrucci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Some time ago, my son Emilio...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```