Preparing for parenthood

I recently read an article by Jennifer Polland of Business Insider, entitled 9 things that surprised me about being a new parent.

#1 on her list is:

Nothing will really prepare you for being a parent.

"Before I gave birth, I took parenting classes and read parenting books. But the truth is that nothing can really prepare you for your baby. Each baby is different, and you'll get to know your baby and cater to his or her needs.

I still panic sometimes when my daughter cries, but at least by now I recognize what the different cries mean. Also, babies reach the big milestones in their own time, so don't panic if your baby isn't rolling over or crawling when the baby books say they should. "

I agree with her statement that every baby is different, and every baby and parent/caregiver brings their own unique personality to the relationship. I have found that working with infants and toddlers before having my own child gave me experience that was helpful in the general sense, even so my child's one of kind personality has brought many new surprises and I have been learning as I go.

What are some things you are doing to prepare for parenting your child(ren)?