As a parent, I occasionally check in with myself and ask: Am I doing a good job?

It’s my goal to create an atmosphere of love and acceptance for my kids. To prepare them for a world where they are able to speak up, where they are not afraid to ask for help.

And every so often, I get an indication that I’ve truly created a sense of trust and acceptance, where my kids feel comfortable revealing their truth to me without fear of anger or judgment.

Today I caught a glimpse of that trust in the quiet of the morning, when my son came in and gave me a gentle tap on the shoulder. I turned and looked into his eyes, and he softly whispered those three little words familiar to dads everywhere: “The toilet’s clogged.”

current mood: undrained

current music: ok go – once more with feeling