05/18/2026
Yesterday afternoon, I pulled into the driveway after wrapping up our largest out-of-town Tailgate Rosary yet. I was exhausted, ready to unwind, and facing a truck completely packed with gear.
Then entered my youngest dragonslayer.
He ran up holding a toy that desperately needed new batteries. I hugged him and gave him the standard dad contract: "I’ll fix it as soon as I unload the truck."
Apparently, he wanted to make sure I didn't breach that contract. Every single trip I made inside to carry gear, he met me at the door like a tiny inspector, holding out the dead toy. Every single time, I repeated the line: "As soon as the truck is empty, Chago."
When the last load was finally brought in, I was dreaming of a hot shower and a couch. Instead, I found him standing in the hallway like a sentinel, waiting with his "broken" artifact. I sighed, grabbed the battery case, and sat on the living room floor. He sat right beside me, completely locked in as I unscrewed the back, tested the old batteries, and popped the new ones in.
The toy roared to life. He laughed, grabbed it and immediately walked over to his toy box, tossed it inside, and sprinted out of the room to play with something else entirely. My lovely wife and I just stood there laughing at how fast the "critical emergency" evaporated.
After the laughter settled, it hit me as a moment of pure vindication. Kids don't always care about the actual object, they care about the promise. It proved to me that my dragonslayers know I am present, and they know they can count on my word. Even if their attention span leaves me wondering what the heck just happened.
My Brothers, be present and keep your word to the little ones, even in the smallest tasks. They are watching closer than we think, and dependability at home is where real leadership begins.
