Your description is not totally correct (or understandable). There is plenty of source of information online so, I won't repeat the whole thing here. In very short and very simplified, talking about humans...
Ploidy, meiosis and fecundation
Both parents are diploid (2N=46). Both parents have specific cells that are undergoing meiosis (in testis and in ovaries). After meiosis, the cells (spermatozoids and ovules) are haploid (1N = 23). The spermatozoid and the ovule fuse (fecundation) to make another diploid (2N = 46) individual. This diploid individual will grow for about 9 months in the mother's uterus before coming out!
Crossover
Now, during meiosis, cross-over occurs. It is a mechanism where the two chromosomes mix up their material. When the cross-over occurs in the father for example, it is the chromosome that the father receive from his father and the chromosome that he received from his mother that mix-up their genetic material.
Possible chromosomes
Let's say the maternally inherited chromosome of the dad is
AAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Let's say the paternally inherited chromosome of the dad is
BBBBBBBBBBBBBB
Then, in the meiosis (where spermatozoids are produced), the two chromosome might mix up and the haploid spermatzoid can end up with something like
BBBBBBBBBBBAAA
Now, on the mother's side, her two chromosomes are, say,
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
and
DDDDDDDDDDDDDD
The mother might therefore transmit
DDDDDDDCCCCCCC
The (diploid) baby would then be
BBBBBBBBBBBAAA
DDDDDDDCCCCCCC
So of course, the chromosomes present in the baby are a bit different form the ones present in the parents but we can still recognize them. If there is doubt who the father is, a genetic analysis of another father might return the chromosomes
BBBBBBBBBBBBBB
FFFFFFFFFFFFFF
, then we would know this individual cannot be the father because he could have not transmitted the AAA
part of the chromosome found in the kid.