Yesterday, our little man turned one. 🎉 They say that becoming a parent will change your life. This quote has stuck with me, not just throughout this past year as a new dad, but even in the months before our little man arrived. It is undeniable. The identity shift. The role changes. The new priorities. It all changes you. However, as my son turned one yesterday, I’ve been approaching this change differently. I’m focusing on Preparation vs. Reaction. I don’t want to just “make it work” in the moment. I want to ensure I’ve built a self, and a life, that is ready for him, whatever the situation demands. We often focus on what we want to provide: • Giving them what we had. • Giving them what we didn’t have. • Giving them what they deserve. But we can’t ensure any of those things if we aren’t forecasting who our child will need us to be. I am trying to see where I am now, and who I’ll need to become. I want to ensure I am growing in lockstep with our son. After all, I want to continue to change because I want to, not just because I have to.