For those that missed my birthday, you have all year to send belated birthday greetings. You know who you are. It's interesting how our perspective changes the older we get.

When we are young, we can't wait to be a teenager and to drive. As a teenager, we can't wait to get out of the house and go to college. We can't wait to turn legal drinking age (19 for my generation), graduate, fall in love, and get married. In our twenties, we look forward to being 25 so our car insurance rates drop. After we travel the world with our spouse, we can't wait to have children. And then, that's where it ends. At least it did for me.

Having children changes everything. Everything we were preparing for has come, and we are now living in it. Before you know it, your first child is in kindergarten, and your second child is getting ready for pre-school. Time has unexpectedly accelerated. Everyone said it would when you have kids. And they were right.

Now my outlook on birthdays has changed. I'm a realist, and some people get uncomfortable when I say the following:

"Another year older, another year closer to death."

It's tough to hear like that, I know, but it's true. I'm reminded of it every time my oldest asks me,

"Daddy, when I'm 18 how old will you be?"

It's a sobering thought. I wish I could stop time, and keep my life exactly where it is. The reality is, this is as good as it's going to get.