Peter Bergman: "I passed out" during daughter's birth

Both were C-section deliveries, but when Connor was born, dads weren’t allowed in the delivery room during the procedure.  Three years later, it was okay, but I wasn’t much help because I kind of passed out.  I didn’t handle the blood terribly well.  At one point, [my wife] Mariellen said, ‘Can we make at least this part about me?’

All of Mariellen’s brothers and sister are redheads; all of my aunts and uncles, except for one, have red hair; both of my grandparents are redheads, both of Mariellen’s parents were redheads, but both of our kids have my mousy brown hair.

I had read Leon Uris’ book Trinity the summer before Connor was born and the main character had that name. I always liked Sam, but Sam Bergman sounds like a furrier.  Clare had always been a favorite of mine because Mariellen’s grandmother was from the County Clare in Ireland.

Connor and I had a chat in the car.  He didn’t have to look me in the eye for any of it.  Once I got to the very end with sharing what I thought was a pretty profound talk, he asked, "Is Pavilions a grocery store?"  He was clearly not impressed with the depth of my speech.

A really smart woman I live with said, "Never comment on your daughter’s weight."

The Little Mermaid.  I knew that thing in and out.  I genuinely loved it, but I saw it so many times that I went insane.

That I would never, ever, in front of them, judge their friends.  I never said anything, no matter what I thought.   They’re going to make their own impressions and they don’t need me adding to it.

Ward Cleaver on Leave It To Beaver because there is an earnest, forthright nature to him, but he’s also a little befuddled.  He’s a good breadwinner and a solid dad, but the family seems to be waiting for him to catch up.