Rick, I remember awkward moments like that on the tandem. I talked to other, more experianced tandem teams and was told not to put much thought into it as it usually happens when one or both riders in the team isn't 100% on that given day.
I'm an empty nesting single parent these days and I've sold the tandem, but I do miss it. My older daughter mentioned a triplet for her family, that should be a hoot.
Brad