Empower U - Joseph Ploehn

Our graduates keep making a difference in the lives of others in their families and communities.

My son Chris just got done having a tremendous Easter experience. From our sharing at church to the movie we saw, to the picnic we enjoyed at the park with our annual Easter Egg hunt, Chris had all sorts of fun! He was a happy, smiling little 8-year old all day... that is until we got home and HE WANTED MORE!!!

He came up to me and asked, "Daddy, can I go swimming now?" I looked at the clock and it was 6:30pm. Not only that, when I checked the temperature of the pool it was 65 degrees. I thought about it and said, "No Chris, you cannot go swimming. We have much to do to prepare for School tomorrow before you go to bed at 8:30pm." Chris ERUPTED with a HUGE FIT, KICKING, SCREAMING, CRYING, saying, "Why DAD? WHY CAN'T I GO SWIMMING?" He threw a HUGE TEMPER TANTRUM! He looked at me with a scowl, a mean, ugly facial expression that up until my Awakening I would have interpreted as "I HATE YOU DAD" or "I DON'T LIKE YOU" or even "YOU DON'T MATTER" Up until my Awakening I would have blown up over that look and that behavior. It must have been all of the candy and fun and excitement that got him that wound up! So what was I going to do? How would I react to this behavior?

Up until then I might have blown up at him. I might have raised my voice. I might have even sent him up to his room for this lack of respect that he showed me, the dog, and the couch by kicking it, jumping on it, and punching it. Shoot, his temper has just about broken the part of the couch he sits on! What was I going to do?

Chris changed his frowning face into a smiley face! His happiness beamed through and he gave me a huge hug. While hugging me he said, "OK Dad, you're right! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!"

I recognized Chris as a CRAB!!! For the first time, I saw him as a CRAB! As you know, Mr. Stuart calls me the "Crab Specialist" so I know how to transform my crying, obnoxious little CRAB into a smiling, happy, once again giggling little boy!!! Here is what I did!

First, I went over to him, looked him in the eye, (even though his face was MEAN LOOKING) I SMILED and said I LOVE YOU CHRIS! with a calm, light voice! I said, "That face tells me that you love me too." Then I added enthusiasm, passion, voice inflection and said, "In fact, you are the greatest little boy on the planet! You have so much to live for tomorrow and it is time to get ready today! You GET TO FOCUS on completing your reading log. Give me your folder and I'll sign it! You've got a yummy dinner to eat, and then YOU GET TO go to your warm bed and get lots of restful sleep to get you ready for a powerful day at School tomorrow!"

The result? Chris changed his frowning face into a smiley face! His happiness beamed through and he gave me a huge hug. While hugging me he said, "OK Dad, you're right! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" With that I knew that I had transformed my sweet 8-yr old Chris from a CRAB back to a happy little boy. What could have been a bad reaction on my part to his temper tantrum and disrespect turned out to be a loving embrace thanks to all of the tools and experience I have gained through LIVING IT every day, day in and day out like it matters! CHRIS DOES MATTER!

I AM COMMITTED TO MY SON. I AM COMMITTED TO LIVING MY LIFE WITH ALL OF THE PASSION, ENTHUSIASM, AND HAPPINESS I POSSIBLY CAN! I AM ALSO COMMITTED TO MY EMPOWERU TEAM, THAT IS WHY I SHARE WITH YOU MY BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONS!

LIVING LIFE WITH PASSION-HBS

Joe Ploehn (Team 297) LIVE IT!