"As a new dad I have been thinking about life in ways I never have before. Something that I am continually conscious of is keeping my identity. Staying true to the man I was before I became a father but at the same time knowing that some of my priorities have changed.

Just because I am a father now doesn’t mean that I will be wearing white therapeutic shoes, jeans that don’t fit and salmon-coloured polo shirts. Or that I’ll be eating at Applebee’s because there are no reservations needed and they do free refills. Quite the opposite, actually. I plan to live big. I want to set an example for my daughter; I want her to enjoy life. And so, I will wear that bespoke suit, drive that classic car, eat at that Michelin star restaurant and still strive to be the best man I can be. I will not shy away from my pursuit to live to the fullest and instead do everything I can to make every memory as special as the next.

I want my daughter to introduce me to new music when she’s older without hearing ‘in my day they knew how to sing.’ I want her to ditch school with me for a day to meander through farmers’ markets and hop around to different museums. I want to take her car shopping and do things that she loves, whatever they may be. I want her to be proud of me when I pick her up from school. I want to be that cool dad. I will concede to dad jokes though… Not like I have much of a choice, sometimes I hear them coming out of my mouth before I even realize what I’m saying.

I am a true believer that all decisions should be made with two individuals in mind. Will my younger self be proud, and will my future self be thankful? If I can answer those two questions correctly, then I know I am in the right place, doing the right thing." - MM