We were having company over, so in collective effort to get the house clean, everyone pitched in to do their share. I assigned one of the children to sweeping, while I did the heavy lifting, and the other two children did their chores.
After I was finished cleaning, I went back to check on the floors, and noticed many missed spots. First I called my child in, and then began to point out each place, somewhat exasperated. As I saw the look on the child's face, I realized that it was not laziness or lack of trying (as it very often IS in this house), but merely lack of good coordination with the broom.
I softened, remembering long forgotten childhood moments just like this one. I remember times when I was too short to hold the broom properly, realizing that even now I have trouble sweeping well because of the wood floors. I lowered my tone and explained how to do it correctly, and then watched my child as they swept it up right, smiling when they were finished, from a job well done.