As I was walking into work today, I saw a woman sitting in the shade having lunch with her baby. The little tyke — couldn’t have been more than two months old — was asleep in a buggy (or “travel system” as they’re called these days). I looked for a little while and smiled. It was a cute scene.

I never used to be one for going, “awww” when it came to kids. I’d see people with kids and it’s didn’t affect me. I’d read about sick kids and I’d feel bad, but I wouldn’t be devastated. I’d watch movies where they had the Child in Danger (TM) and I’d get annoyed. The floodwaters or whatever would be closing in on some little tot and all I could think was “This again? What, was central casting out of cute puppies?” In fact, our decision to have kids wasn’t made because we luuuved kids but because, at our age, it was now or never.

That’s all changed since I’ve become a dad. Maybe it’s because I can now project everything onto Abby. Seeing that woman in the shade made me think about when my daughter was nothing but a bologna loaf with big blue eyes. Or maybe Abby fixed whatever was broken in me. But I have changed. For the better, I hope. It’s hasn’t made me a big bleeding-heart liberal; quite the opposite, in fact. But I do feel a little closer to my fellow human beings.