“Woah, okay, come on, sweetie! Look at daddy!” Zack says cheerfully, waving his hands comically to try and get his daughter to stop crying. There are big tears rolling down her chubby face, little hands balled into fists as she rages louder and louder. She’s at that stage where he doesn’t know why she’s so upset, and it doesn’t seem like she knows either. Her hair seems to spike up further and further the more upset she becomes.

Zack picks up her favourite stuffed animal, hovering in front of his face and putting on a silly voice, hoping it will get her to stop crying. “Look, it’s your favourite toy, Mr. Bear! Yay!” He makes eye contact with you across the room, his lip twitching a bit from the urge to either laugh or call you for help. This feels like something he should be doing by himself even though you’re way better at soothing your daughter than he is. He’s determined to see this through.