Family, Firsts, & Mom Gets Ready To Go Back To Work

Gray Hair & Daycare: Gen X Dad, Gen Beta Baby – Episode 27: Instincts, Family Legacies, and Baby Steps to Independence

Hosts: Frank Syrio and Carlo Russo

Welcome back to Gray Hair & Daycare: Gen X Dad, Gen Beta Baby! In Episode 27, Frank and Carlo explore the wisdom of trusting parental instincts, the unique ways family history shapes us, and the latest baby milestones as Josie turns three months old.

Celebrating Three Months of Baby Josie and Upcoming Changes

Frank joyfully announces that his daughter, Josie, is now

three months old. He marvels at how quickly the time has passed and highlights her constant "talking," little squeals, and squeaks. Josie even tries to get the dogs' attention, especially Watson, the larger dog, when he plays with a tennis ball.

A significant upcoming change is Kelly's return to work in just two weeks, starting with two days a week and gradually increasing. This transition marks a new adventure for the family.

Book Report: Five Rules for Raising Successful Kids

Frank introduces a "Book Report" segment, this time focusing on an online article by Matilda Ross, a psychiatrist and professor at Boston University. The article outlines "five simple rules to raise highly successful children". Frank notes that some of these rules resonate with Carlo's instinctive parenting style:

1. Follow Your Instincts, Not Influencers: The article emphasizes trusting one's own judgment as parents have for thousands of years, rather than being overwhelmed by information from social media influencers. Carlo, for instance, never sought advice, preferring to figure things out himself.

2. Follow Your Culture, Not Clickbait: Relying on the collective wisdom and experiences of extended family and cultural traditions can be invaluable. Carlo often draws from his memories of how his mother parented.

3. Follow Your Kid, Not the Crowd: Parents should observe and cater to their child's individual interests and personalities, rather than imposing external expectations. This is particularly relevant with multiple children, as each is a unique individual.

4. Focus on Enjoyment, Not Development: When children are having fun, they are naturally learning and developing. Obsessing over
   milestones can detract from the joy of the moment. Frank acknowledges that while Kelly is very focused on milestones, Josie is ahead socially due to constant interaction, even if her physical milestones are slightly behind.

5. Be Your Real Self, Not Your Ideal Self: Allowing children to see the full range of human emotions, managed appropriately, teaches them emotional intelligence and authenticity. Carlo notes that his parents had "no filter," offering a complete picture of their personalities.

What Just Happened: Family Connections and Home Projects

Frank shares highlights from the past two weeks:

• Sister Lucille's Visit: Frank's sister, Lucille, visited for almost a week, providing much-needed help and getting to know baby Josie. The visit also sparked a fascinating discussion about how siblings, particularly with significant age gaps like Frank's 19-year difference with his brother and 12-13 year difference with Lucille, can have vastly different experiences growing up with the same parents.

• Nursery Progress: With Lucille's help, Frank made significant progress on the baby nursery. He completed the electrical wiring for hot air balloon light fixtures and plans to install chair rail molding. Frank is glad he delayed the nursery project, as their initial ideas would have been impractical.

• A "Fairy Tale" Trail: Frank created a walking trail on their 12-acre property, leading through a meadow and woods to a pond, even building a makeshift bridge. He envisions this as a special "fairy tale" path for Josie as she grows.

• Baby's First Outings: Josie had her first visit to Green Lake State Park, where she enjoyed the fresh air (by sleeping). She also experienced her first dinner away from home at Frank's sister Paula's house and her first visit to the family boat at the marina.

• New Caregiver: The family has lined up Carrie, a retired family member, to help with childcare when Kelly returns to work. Frank emphasizes the immense relief and gratitude of having a trusted family member provide care, contrasting it with the challenges of traditional
  daycare.

Check Please: Updating the Baby Budget

In the "Check Please" segment, Frank updates the running total of expenses for Josie. Since the last update a month ago, the total has increased to

$6,310.71. This includes significant purchases like molding for the nursery, as well as ongoing costs like

diapers and French onesies. Frank also humorously notes the increasing weight of carrying Josie in her car seat, which is now about 15 pounds, making him consider starting a workout routine.

The episode concludes with Frank reflecting on how lucky they are to have a generally happy baby, contrasting Josie's disposition with some of the heartbreaking stories shared on new parent subreddits about consistently crying babies.

 

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