Four years ago, Kevin Glassett’s son, Connor, was on the cusp of adulthood. At 21, he had just returned from a year of studying abroad and was set to graduate college the following spring. Connor was everything you’d hope for in a son: tall, strong, intelligent, and brimming with confidence.
One hot summer day, Kevin came home from a long day at work, feeling exhausted. Connor, who had just finished his job running the town’s playground program, pulled into the driveway and asked for a few minutes of his dad’s time. Despite his fatigue, Kevin agreed to help.
Connor pulled several garbage bags filled with wet, tie-dyed shirts from his car. He explained that the shirts were for the kids in his program to wear on a field trip to the zoo, a simple way to keep the group together and easily identifiable. As they began rinsing and hanging the shirts to dry, a puzzled Kevin asked, “Why are you doing this on your own time?”
Connor’s response was simple and profound: “No shirt, no trip.”
He went on to explain that there were more than 50 shirts in those bags. Kevin’s mind immediately went to all the practical concerns. What about the parents? Where was his staff? He barely made any money from this job. He shook his head, caught up in the logistics and the unfairness of the situation.
But as they worked through the pile of colorful shirts, Connor began telling stories. With each shirt he rinsed and hung, he shared a small, unique story about the child who made it—by name. He smiled as he recalled their antics, letting out a small laugh every so often. There were more than 50 shirts, and with each one came a new story.
“All by name,” Kevin reflected.
That memory has stayed with Kevin. He thinks about it often, a powerful lesson he learned not from a lecture, but from watching his own son’s quiet act of compassion. In that moment, Connor wasn’t just rinsing shirts; he was ensuring that every single child felt seen and included. He was using his strength to protect and foster joy in others.
Kevin realized that day what true strength looks like. It’s not about confidence or bravado. It’s about a man using his power for kindness, for a moral obligation to others. It’s about taking the time to remember someone’s name and acknowledging what makes them unique.
In a world that often measures success in grand gestures, Connor’s quiet act of service showed his father the most important measure of a man.