The call to action can take many forms. For some it can be something small while for others it can be something drastic. I’ve heard that two things motivate people. They are inspiration or desperation.

As a parent we find that we can experience many of these moments. We may be alone with our children and find a moment where we are moved in our hearts and think to ourselves that this is what it means to be a parent. Other times we may be with our children, pulling our hair out thinking, is this what it means to be a parent?

If we think back and remember these moments, we can find markers where we have been motivated to do something different. I remember I made my daughter clean up the bathroom floor because she made it wet. Now this may sound like guidance but the way I did it was anything but. I yelled at her and watched her cry while she wiped up the mess. I honestly didn’t handle that very well. This is one of those examples of desperation coming into play. I felt so guilty that I decided try doing that again differently.

The next time she wet the floor I showed her how I do it and said that when she wets the floor to clean it up like daddy. The next day she made a mess, and this time I said, don’t forget to clean the floor like daddy and she did. When she finished wiping floor she said… Dad, this is a dumb job.

I smiled and hugged her and said. Yes, it is my darling, yes it is.