After we returned home, Janet stayed for a week to help—and to teach Luke a lesson in responsibility. She assigned him full parenting duties, from late-night feedings to diaper changes, ensuring he understood the effort and commitment he had momentarily walked away from. Exhausted and humbled, Luke finally realized the weight of what he had done. By the end of the week, he apologized sincerely and promised to be present from that day forward.

Over time, Luke transformed into a dependable and loving father, showing up for every feeding, every bath time, and every milestone. He rebuilt the trust he had broken by choosing our family daily, even on the hardest nights. Through it all, I learned that real family isn’t always defined by blood—it’s defined by the people who show up when you need them most. And sometimes, even those who falter can learn to do better when someone cares enough to guide them back.