The Fatherhood Filter: Be Your Real Self! #GenXDads #ParentingCoach

Welcome back to the "Gray Hair & Daycare" podcast! Older dads Frank (55) and Carlo (56) discuss the big changes as Kelly prepares to go back to work and Baby Josie turns three months old. This episode is packed with fatherhood advice and humor in life as the Gen X dads navigate raising kids.

In "Book Report," Frank shares five simple rules for raising kids successfully, including the rule to "Be your real self, not your ideal self," allowing children to see the full range of emotions. This segment offers practical fatherhood tips on trusting instinct over social media baby advice and the value of cultural family knowledge.

In "What Just Happened," Frank recounts a visit from his sister Lucille, which exposed the vastly different childhoods he and his siblings had with their father. The segment is filled with new project updates, including Frank's commitment to being a dad by wiring hot air balloon light fixtures, creating a whimsical nature path to a pond, and building a secret mouse house in the nursery wall. Finally, "Check Please" updates the baby's expenses, revealing the ongoing cost of diapers and the price of French onesies! This episode is a great guide for any parenting coach looking for real-world scenarios.

Chapter Markers:

• 0:00 - Josie is 3 Months Old & Kelly is Going Back to Work

• 2:48 - Book Report: 5 Rules to Raise Highly Successful Kids

• 6:31 - Rule 1: Follow Your Instincts, Not Influencers

• 8:54 - Rule 2: Follow Your Culture, Not Clickbait

• 10:04 - Rule 3: Follow Your Kid, Not the Crowd

• 13:21 - Rule 5: Be Your Real Self, Not Your Ideal Self (The Full Menu)

• 15:43 - What Just Happened: The Invisible Dad vs. The Slave-Driving Dad

• 20:00 - Nursery DIY: Wiring in the Hot Air Balloons

• 21:00 - The Whimsical Forest Path to the Pond

• 24:34 - Firsts: Green Lakes, Dinner Out & The Boat

• 26:24 - The Caregiver: Family Help Swoops In to Save Frank

• 30:00 - The Childcare Bill of Goods: Career vs. Being a Dad

• 32:56 - Are All Babies This Happy? (The Crying Baby Subreddit)

• 34:25 - Check Please: Fanny Roulette & French Onesies

• 36:58 - The Mouse Hole: A 1/24th Scale Magical Log Cabin

Relevant Links Mentioned:

• CNBC Website Article (Matilda Ross): "Five simple rules for raising successful kids".

• https://tinyurl.com/CNBC-5-Rules-Article

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