Alright, parents, gather ‘round. Today, we’re diving into the deep, philosophical waters of parenting—specifically, the art of trying. And by “trying,” I mean the kind of trying that involves a wet kid, a towel, and a whole lot of optimism.

Here’s the scene: Hari, my ever-enthusiastic son, steps out of the shower, dripping like a half-melted popsicle. He looks at me, sighs dramatically, and says, “Dad, I tried to dry myself, but I failed.”

Now, let’s pause for a moment. First of all, the fact that he used the word “failed” at the age of… well, whatever age he is (let’s be honest, I lose track) is both impressive and mildly concerning. Is he auditioning for a TED Talk on toddler towel techniques? Is he preparing for a future career in motivational speaking? Or is he just really bad at drying himself?

Either way, I saw this as a teachable moment. Because that’s what dads do. We see chaos, and we think, “How can I turn this into a life lesson?”

So, I looked him dead in the eye and said, “Hari, if you tried, then you haven’t failed. You succeeded in trying. And trying is the most important thing.”

Cue the dramatic music.

Hari blinked at me, water still dripping from his hair, and said, “But I’m still wet.”

“Exactly!” I replied, because dads are experts at ignoring obvious flaws in their logic. “You’re wet now, but you’re trying to be dry. And trying is what champions are made of. Michael Jordan didn’t become Michael Jordan by giving up the first time he missed a free throw. Thomas Edison didn’t invent the lightbulb by saying, ‘Welp, I guess candles are fine.’ And you, my son, will not master the art of towel-drying by quitting just because you’re still a little damp.”

At this point, Hari was staring at me like I’d just explained quantum physics using only emojis. But I wasn’t done.

“Hari,” I continued, “you’ve already perfected the most important part: trying. And let me tell you, trying is harder than it looks. Trying takes courage. Trying takes determination. Trying takes… well, a towel. But the point is, you’re doing great. Eventually, you’ll be able to dry yourself like a pro. But for now, let’s celebrate the fact that you’re out here, giving it your all, even if your all looks like a soggy mess.”

Hari thought about this for a moment. Then he said, “Dad, can you just dry me?”

Sigh.

Look, parenting is all about balance. You want to teach your kids important life lessons, but sometimes, they just want you to do the thing for them. And that’s okay. Because while they’re busy being little humans who can’t quite figure out how towels work, you’re busy being their biggest cheerleader.

So, to all the parents out there: celebrate the trying. Celebrate the effort. Celebrate the fact that your kid is out there, giving it their best shot, even if their best shot involves using a towel as a cape instead of, you know, actually drying themselves.

And if all else fails, just remember: wet kids dry eventually. But the memories of these ridiculous moments? Those last forever.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go help Hari with his next big challenge: putting on socks without putting both feet in the same one.

Stay strong, parents. And keep trying.

Love from Dad (and part-time towel consultant)