A lot of the time, she’ll actually hold it until she’s on the potty. That’s been amazing to see. It reminds me that babies can do more than we think if we give them the chance.

It’s not perfect. There are accidents. Sometimes, I get frustrated because it feels like we’re moving backward. But then I look at her and realize—she’s only 8 months. This is all brand new. She’s learning, and so are we.

One of the funniest parts is when she blows raspberries while sitting on the potty. It makes me laugh every time. It’s like she’s telling us, “I got this.”

If you’re thinking about early potty training, here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Be consistent. We take her every time after a feeding and after she wakes up.

• Don’t expect perfection. Accidents happen, and that’s part of it.

• Celebrate the little wins. Even one successful potty trip is progress.

• Be patient—with your baby and with yourself.

Parenthood is messy, but these small victories feel huge. Watching our baby grow through this, even at such a young age, makes me a proud dad. And it reminds me that we’re in it together—me learning patience, her learning her body.

It’s hard. Because when I mess up, when I forget things, when I get distracted, I get angry at myself. I tell myself I should be better. I should be stronger. And then I feel broken, like I’m letting my wife down, like I’m letting my daughter down.

I’ve even felt embarrassed in therapy. Sitting there doing exercises like EMDR, trying to work through things, while part of me is saying, Man, why can’t I just get it together?

But the truth is, whether I believe it or not, I’m struggling with it. I know I’m not lazy. I know I care. I love my family more than anything. But ADHD feels like this shadow I don’t want to name, even though it’s already in the room.

Some days I get it right. Other days I don’t. And on the bad days, it’s easy to feel like I’m broken. But deep down, I know I’m not. I’m a dad, I’m a husband, and I’m learning.

I may not fully believe the ADHD label yet. But I do believe this: my family needs me to keep showing up. Even in the mess. Even when I don’t feel enough. Even when I’m embarrassed.

That’s what I’m trying to do. One day at a time.

I never thought I’d start a blog about being a dad. I’m a photographer, and for years I’ve told stories with my camera. But somewhere between the sleepless nights, diapers, and those quiet moments when my daughter grabs my beard with her little hands, I realized this part of my life deserves its own focus.

Dad in Focus is my way of slowing down and really seeing what fatherhood looks like. Not just the perfect family photos but the real, raw snapshots of everyday life. The messy mornings. The big smiles. The lessons I’m still figuring out.

Being a dad isn’t easy. Some days I feel like I’m doing great. Other days, I’m just trying to keep up. But every moment, good or hard, is shaping me into the dad I’m meant to be.

Here, I’ll share those moments. Stories of what I’m learning, what fatherhood means to me, and maybe some behind the scenes from the guy behind the camera who’s just trying to love his family well.

If you’re a dad, I hope you’ll see yourself here. If you’re not, maybe you’ll see your own father, brother, or husband in a new way. Either way, I hope these words remind you that being a dad isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being here. Let’s keep fatherhood in focus.