Problem solving story: How a daughter solved her father's tough puzzle

One evening, a hardworking father found himself buried under a mountain of work, even after a long day at the office. He knew he had responsibilities at home too, so he made sure to prepare a warm meal and sit down with his family for dinner. His little daughter, full of energy and excitement, chatted happily about her day, but the father could not focus completely on what she was telling him, because his mind was occupied with unfinished tasks waiting in his home office. After dinner, the father sighed, excused himself, and retreated to his study, determined to finish his work. But before he could even get started, his daughter appeared at the door with a bright smile. She wanted to play. “Daddy is very busy right now,” he thought, but she was persistent, tugging at his sleeve and giggling, eager for his attention. Trying to keep her occupied while he worked, he looked around for something that might entertain her. That’s when he spotted a magazine with a large, colorful map of the world printed inside. A clever idea came to him. He carefully tore out the page, then ripped it into small pieces, turning it into a makeshift puzzle. Handing the scattered pieces to his daughter, he suggested, “Here, take this to your room and see if you can put the world back together. It should take quite a while.” Satisfied that this would give him enough time to focus, he turned back to his desk.

To his great surprise, within just a few minutes, his daughter was back, holding the completed map, perfectly reassembled. Her face beamed with pride. The father blinked in astonishment. “How did you do it so quickly?” he wondered, truly impressed. He had expected her to struggle for a long time, carefully trying to fit each country and continent back into place. The little girl laughed and explained, “Daddy, there was a picture of a woman’s face on the other side of the paper. When I put the face together, the world came together too!” Her eyes shone with joy, unaware of the powerful wisdom hidden in her simple words. The father sat still, letting her words sink in. He had been so focused on work, on tasks, on responsibilities that he had almost forgotten something very important. The world, with all its complexities, could only come together when people, the faces behind everything were put together first. He realized that just like the puzzle if he wanted harmony and balance in his life, he needed to focus on the people he loved, not just his duties. With a warm smile, he put down his work, took his daughter’s tiny hand, and led her to the living room. “Work can wait,” he thought. “Right now, my daughter needs me. And I need her too.” And so, that evening, the father learned a lesson that would stay with him forever. No matter how demanding life gets, taking time for loved ones is what truly brings the world together.