Reflections of a New Husband, New Father, and New Grandfather
By a Man Still Learning Which Buttons Not to Push
Welcome, friends.
This little blog is where I’ll share my reflections, ruminations, and a few stories from my ongoing adventure as a husband, father, and now grandfather. Hopefully, you’ll find something helpful—or at least entertaining.
A quick disclaimer: these are my personal experiences, not a parenting manual. Think of this more as “lessons learned the hard way.”
For instance, let’s talk about the first time I dropped my daughter on her face.
It was December 1996. My baby girl, Alex, was about three or four months old. We’d been at dinner with friends, first time at their house. The night had gone perfectly—I’d packed the diaper bag like a pro and secured my little princess into her infant carrier with all the confidence of a man who had no idea what he was doing.
As we said our long Mexican goodbyes (which, if you know, can last longer than the dinner itself), I noticed two bright red buttons on either side of the carrier. And, being me, I pushed them. Both. At once.
Instantly, the carrier rotated forward like a carnival ride. My daughter’s eyes went wide, I lunged, and for one glorious moment, I thought I’d saved the day.
Then gravity reminded me who’s in charge.
Somewhere around knee height, Alex slipped out and face-planted into the carpet.
No lasting damage—thank God—but my confidence never fully recovered.
Lesson learned: don’t push red buttons unless you know what they do. And maybe more importantly, parenthood isn’t about getting it right—it’s about surviving your mistakes with a little humility and humor.
So if you’ve ever fumbled your way through family life, welcome. You’re in good company.
