Occupation: GMFS Mortgage Lender
Wife: Taylor Woods
Children: Myles, 2, and one on the way
Hobbies: Cooking, working out, hunting, and fishing

Adam Woods is a soon-to-be father of two, an outdoorsman, a loving husband, and a man of great faith. As a dad to a toddler, Adam always has his hands full when it comes to his spunky son, Myles. Although Adam works a demanding job with sometimes long hours, he always makes time to spend with his family and to enjoy his hobbies! Adam has a packed schedule every day, but he strives to live a balanced life where he can prioritize those he loves the most–his wife and children.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE RAISING YOUR CHILDREN?
ADAM: Chaotic but the biggest blessing I’ve ever had. Chaotic, fun, and a blessing.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO AS A FAMILY?
ADAM: We love to do anything outside. Going to parks and ponds in our neighborhood. We like to visit the ducks. Anything outside. Myles will be my fishing buddy one day.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING ABOUT BEING A DAD?
ADAM: The biggest thing I look forward to is coming home to Myles and he just runs up to me. We play and wrestle for like 30 minutes straight.

HOW HAS PARENTHOOD CHANGED YOU?
ADAM: You know, if you’re a good parent it changes everything about you. It has changed all of my priorities and my selfishness. It forces you to be selfless and give up what you want, to make sure your family and child have what they need.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN PARENTING?
ADAM: Myles being our first is learning as you go. You can get any kind of advice from anyone. Being responsible for keeping someone alive with no prior experience. Being adaptable and going with the flow.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
ADAM: As a mortgage lender, I love working with first-time home buyers. Closing a loan for a first-time homebuyer is so exciting. The pride they show. Seeing a newlywed’s excitement is the thing I love the most.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN 2023?
ADAM: Professionally we saw a pretty steep decline in sales in the mortgage world last year. We’re paid on commission, so it can be hard seeing that decline and having peace about how it will all pan out. Also, learning how to deal with that and our growing family, in addition to being a dad to my first child.

WHAT HAS YOUR JOB TAUGHT YOU ABOUT PARENTING?
ADAM: You never know what the next job is going to bring you. You have to be in the moment and focus on one thing at a time. I’ve learned this idea translated into parenting. You’ve got to be able to be where your feet are, like they say.

HOW DO YOU MAKE TIME TO RELAX?
ADAM: Relaxing is tough with a demanding job and having kids. You’ve got to give your all at work and home. I try to be intentional about this once we put Myles to bed. Taylor and I try to be intentional about spending time together and talking about the day––no phones or other distractions. That’s relaxing to me. It unwinds me and prepares me for the next day.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DATE NIGHT WITH YOUR WIFE?
ADAM: One of our favorites is the traditional Baton Rouge dinner at Gino’s. We’ll go out and get drinks or cocktails and have a long dinner. I’ll order spicy Italian sausage and a bottle of red. We’ll end the night with great conversation and espresso martinis.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU HOPE TO INSTILL IN YOUR CHILDREN?
ADAM: Two things: love of God, and having respect and love for others.

WHICH FAMILY MEMBER HAS BEEN THE GREATEST ROLE MODEL IN YOUR LIFE?
ADAM: Both of my parents. Both of my parents have sacrificed so much for me in my life. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how much they truly sacrificed for me. Everything my parents have taught me has helped me as a parent.

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER PARENTS?
ADAM: Don’t be afraid to go with the flow; be flexible in that. Don’t be afraid to discipline your child and discipline them with love. The weight of being responsible for the type of adult that your child becomes is always in the back of my mind. Stick to what you believe in. Get rid of preexisting expectations you have for parenthood or what it looks like. Throw out all expectations and do it the way you feel is best for you and your child.

Q&A
Before I go out, I always check to make sure I have…phone, keys, and wallet.
In my fridge, you will always find…strawberries and fruit..Myles’ faves. Oh, and we gotta have milk.
Favorite cuisine… good homecooked rice and gravy…good Cajun cuisine.
Favorite movie growing up…Sandlot.
My guilty pleasure is…bourbon. Different types of bourbon. I am steadily growing a bourbon collection.
Music I’m loving…country…Tyler Childers. Non-traditional, neo-folk country, and Zydeco.
I’m always laughing at…Myles. He’s the funniest little dude. His personality now is that he can kind of speak a little bit. He’s got a great toddler personality. We’re best buds. Also, my wife is gonna kill me for this one but, I love The Office. Man, it has me crying tears sometimes.