Jesse Tyler Ferguson knew that becoming a father would mean having to reassess his personal and professional priorities. The Modern Family star and his husband, Justin Mikita, were ready to make major lifestyle changes when they welcomed their first child, a son named Beckett Mercer , in July.

Neither could have predicted, however, that this shared milestone would take place during a pandemic. Over time, Ferguson learned to focus on the positive when it came to the unexpected time at home.

Ive always wanted to be a dad, and I sort of had an idea of what that was going to be like in my head, he told HuffPost. The reality of it has, of course, been completely different. I try not to look too far into the future. I try not to ask myself, When will this be over? Weve had to roll with the punches and take each day as it comes.

Ferguson, a five-time Emmy nominee, saw the end of an era in the early weeks of the COVID-19 crisis when Modern Family ended its run after 11 seasons. In spite of the shows conclusion and Becketts arrival, he hasnt been kicking back. Instead, hes chosen to emphasize his culinary prowess as the co-author of Food Between Friends, a new cookbook he co-authored with his longtime pal Julie Tanous .