When my son was little, there were times when I did not know how to build our father-son relationship. Sometimes I did too much, and sometimes I did too little. When I tried too hard, I tended to expect a lot in return and ended up feeling burdened and disappointed. Yet when I did not try hard enough, I felt it was not befitting for my role… After many years of trial and error, I came to realize that we could build our relationship and establish our family values through listening, dreaming and having adventures together.

You may have come across acrobats performing the art of “juggling” in some tourist areas. The artist is usually able to juggle three or more items with two hands, performing in all different styles and levels of difficulty. This is indeed an art, not just multitasking, as it involves countless hours of practice to make it happen. Being a new father these past couple years, I have also felt like I am “juggling” all the time.

It’s no secret that the addition of a child to any family completely changes the family dynamics. But I didn’t realize that the changes brought by a child is even more far-reaching than that. My husband and I had been married for 12 years before our long-anticipated child joined our family. I thought I was well prepared for this change. However, now, another six years later, I have to confess I am still amazed by how our daughter has transformed my world.