Episode Transcript
[00:00:16] Speaker A: Welcome to modern mixtape navigating parenthood. I'm your host, Jim, along with my wife, Jenny. We're just two parents born in the seventies, raised in the eighties, love music from the nineties, and raising kids in the two thousands, and frankly, just trying to figure it all out. Let's dive into the mixtape of modern parenting. This is modern mixtape. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on all socials.
[00:00:39] Speaker B: Guess who's back in a bonus episode of modern mixtape. Peyton, our oldest. We had such a good response on our first two episodes, we thought we'd check back in during her life after college.
[00:00:51] Speaker C: Hello.
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Hey.
[00:00:53] Speaker A: Hi.
[00:00:54] Speaker B: Welcome back. Pay.
[00:00:55] Speaker A: Welcome back.
[00:00:56] Speaker B: Give everybody an update on where you're at.
[00:00:59] Speaker C: Well, so, I am not home, obviously. I'm actually in my own apartment in Florida. I am down here for an equine internship that will go towards my major, and I truly am just loving what I'm learning down here, and I'm learning, really, about the industry and how to really balance it all on top of taking care of myself but also just, you know, taking care of a horse and working for people down here.
[00:01:28] Speaker B: And you've been down there how long since we moved?
[00:01:30] Speaker C: Almost three weeks.
[00:01:31] Speaker B: Almost three weeks?
[00:01:32] Speaker A: I was gonna guess three weeks?
[00:01:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:01:33] Speaker C: Almost three weeks, yeah.
[00:01:35] Speaker B: So, how have the first three weeks been? I know we've talked to you a lot.
[00:01:42] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. No, I've called a lot more in the last three weeks than I think I've called in college. If I'm being super honest, why do.
[00:01:49] Speaker B: You think you called more in these three weeks than you did in college?
[00:01:55] Speaker C: I call. I feel like I called a lot more because I'm, like, living on my own. Like, I am literally in a different state on my own. Like, I don't have, like, a roommate. I don't have, you know, my ra down the hallway.
This is in college. I am literally in an apartment by myself on a property, you know, and everything. And so it's very different because you're just taking care of yourself, but you also now have a place to take care of, and, you know, and it's. It's very, very different because you used to have a roommate, and you're used to living with someone and being like, oh, you know, like, you won't be as loud or you won't be as, like, you know, you won't do the normal, like, what you do if you were by yourself.
[00:02:37] Speaker B: So, are you raging down there? Are you saying you're being really loud down there?
[00:02:41] Speaker C: No. No. But not raging.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: Well, that that's good to hear as a parent. But did you think that it was going to be the same? I'm just curious, you know, when you move down there, because this was your idea, I have to say, we did not tell you to go get an internship. This was completely your idea.
[00:03:01] Speaker A: Not that she got off.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: It was so.
[00:03:03] Speaker C: No, I completely cooked this up for myself, if I put it that way. I see, absolutely. Because to kind of give a quick little timeline, you know, I, at the end of college, as the semester, second semester was nearing the end, I realized, oh, my God, like, I either have to move back home with the horse or I got to find something else to do. And, you know, moving the horse back to Texas is just really difficult because of the heat and others, etcetera and everything.
[00:03:34] Speaker B: And so just a little background for everyone. Transporting horses across the country, especially to back and forth to Texas during the summer months, is really difficult on the horses. And so kudos to Peyton for recognizing that and deciding to decide to stay on the east coast so she could be with her horse, and she found an opportunity to make it work. So kudos. Kudos to her.
[00:04:05] Speaker C: I realized that Bilbo and I go as a pair, and that's how it is, you know, when a horse is like, that's how it goes with someone, you know, you have to, you know, if I leave, you know, I have to find someone who's gonna ride him and take care of him and all this other stuff, you know, it's no longer just, oh, I can go on vacation and just leave. See, ya know, I can't do that. I have a horse to take care of.
[00:04:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:04:29] Speaker C: And so it's coordinating all of that. And so I then, you know, started talking and just started talking with some close people. I have industry, and I got an internship cooked together for down here in Florida, and I have now loved it. And I've learned so much in the last three weeks, like, I can't even explain it, so.
[00:04:54] Speaker B: But was it the same as you thought, or, like, I guess easier. Harder. And that.
[00:04:59] Speaker C: Harder.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: Harder.
[00:05:00] Speaker C: Harder. 100% harder.
[00:05:02] Speaker A: Yes. Drinking out of a fire hose. Yeah, you and, oh, this will be okay. This is a little difficult. And then all of a sudden, you're like, look, now I'm independent.
[00:05:11] Speaker C: Yeah. It was kind of like when you go to college, you're kind of like, you just turn on the spigot a little bit and you're like, okay, okay, this isn't too bad. And then once you get into the swing of things, you're like, this is not too bad, but realizing that, oh, I can't just go, like, walk down to the dining hall and food will be ready for me. I actually have to make food. I actually have to, like, you know, all these different things. And it's like. So I really made it important that I made a routine for myself when I got down here so that I wouldn't, you know, I'm a person being on the autism spectrum. I'm someone that thrives on routines. It's what I do. It works for me. And, you know, I can't say how much routines help me because it's the best thing I can do ever.
[00:05:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:56] Speaker A: Yeah. See, school is at least structured. You know, you have to go to class. You know, you have to go to this. You know, you have to do that.
[00:06:02] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Well, and I don't usually get my schedule, you know, for what I'm doing for, you know, usually the next day until, like, usually at night when I'm eating dinner and everything. And, you know, and then I plan my day accordingly after that. And so it really has taught me how to be flexible and work in the gray area, which, for someone like myself, is very difficult and causes a lot of anxiety at times.
And I'm really happy that I'm learning how to work through that anxiety of working through that gray area.
[00:06:31] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. What's been the most surprising thing that you've had to kind of figure out in terms of just, like, managing life? In terms of, oh, you didn't have to do that at college, but now that you're on your own, oh, I actually have to do this.
[00:06:49] Speaker C: A big thing for me was realizing, you know, just keeping. It's the same thing I did back in college, but, you know, I just realized it's a lot more, you know, is keeping all spaces clean, because now. Cause obviously, with where I live, you know, people go in and out, you know, and I try to, you know, keep all spaces clean so people can walk in whenever they like, you know.
[00:07:16] Speaker B: That is a good skill. Yeah. And thinking back to the podcast episode we actually released before this, we were talking about skills you need to teach the.
Teach teenagers before they leave the house. And I think that's one, like, the concept of five minute pickups and, like, rooms, and you don't think about that, but then when you leave the house and you're gonna be with other people, you're talking about it right now. That's important. You don't realize that, but I'm sure when you were a teenager, and we were harping on you, like, hey, keep your room clean. Keep your room clean. You don't realize, oh, I lose my.
[00:07:55] Speaker C: Marbles about it all the time.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: But you don't think about what a valuable skill that is, just being able to take five minutes and pick up your stuff, because now being able to keep that living room area of your apartment clean is huge.
[00:08:07] Speaker C: Absolutely.
[00:08:09] Speaker B: Well, and, yeah, how's it been grocery shopping? I know we've had a couple fun conversations with you. Grocery shopping and learning how to navigate the market.
[00:08:21] Speaker C: Okay, so, lesson number one. Never go on a Sunday. Oh, my lord. Never go on a Sunday. It is the worst, most anxiety ridden experience for myself because I'm 19, and, you know, obviously, I'm a pretty. I'm a people person. But there's also that little half heart of me that is absolutely antisocial and does not talk to anybody, you know, and does not like socializing, you know, like, when I'm done with work, I don't talk to pretty much anybody else except for you guys and maybe my best friend from college. So that's pretty much it.
[00:08:54] Speaker A: What you're saying is Sundays is too people y for you?
[00:08:57] Speaker C: It's too people. It's too much people. And I can't do that. And so I get anxious. And so I remember calling you and being like, it's a Sunday. And I remember calling and be like, oh, my God. This is horrible. Please help. Like I said, it was an so's. At this point, I had to kind.
[00:09:16] Speaker B: Of explain the concept of people go to church, then they might go to brunch or lunch, and then they go to the grocery store.
[00:09:23] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. They want to stock up for the week.
[00:09:24] Speaker B: Yeah, that's people's routine. And Peyton didn't know about that kind of little sunny routine. That's why we do not hit our heb on Sundays. And unless we are, like, desperado, that is the only time we will go to Heb on a Sunday. It is a no zone. So, Peyton made the so's call.
[00:09:45] Speaker C: Yeah, I made the so's call, being like, I'm very overwhelmed. I need your help. And so. And I'm glad I called instead of just trying to work through it on my own, because I'm not. I if I had not called, I probably would have had a meltdown at the grocery store, and people would have been like, what? What's wrong with you? And I'm literally in riding clothes, you know, because I usually am now in riding attire, you know, 98% of the time, I'm, you know, out and about. I'm usually in riding attire, which consists of tall socks, you know, pants and, like, my riding pants and a good long sleeve sunshirt because, you know, the sun and the weather down here is, you know, very hot. So I walk in, and I just am covered in sweat and tired, and I'm trying to grocery shop. And if I had that meltdown, I would be like, oh, my God. So, like, what's wrong with this person?
[00:10:34] Speaker A: So, what else did you learn about grocery shopping?
[00:10:38] Speaker C: I've learned that it is. Price shopping is so key. Like, things in Virginia, there's a little bit of a price difference, but there's stuff down here that just costs more, like, in general and also looking for, like, deals on fruit. So, blackberries, there was, like, $0.99 for a box, and so I literally got, like, four of them. Those little things that are so important to realize and making sure you're price shopping and because that's what's going to be your most affordable outcome at the end of the day.
[00:11:07] Speaker B: Yeah, that was good.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: Have you.
[00:11:09] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:10] Speaker A: Is there anything else you've learned because there's a hack in there that you don't know about that I haven't heard yet?
[00:11:16] Speaker C: Uh, the other.
Well, also call your. I don't know what the hack is.
[00:11:23] Speaker B: Yeah, what do do tell?
[00:11:25] Speaker A: Never shop when you're hungry.
[00:11:27] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:11:28] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, that's bad. That's really bad. I've done that a couple times, and that's not been great.
[00:11:33] Speaker A: And you come home, you're like, oh, my God, I can't wait to eat. Why did I spend all that money? Oh, man.
[00:11:40] Speaker C: It's.
[00:11:41] Speaker A: That will cut into your budget quicker than anything.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: I think the other thing Peyton and I talked about is looking in, because she actually has a pretty small kitchen, but which is good.
[00:11:52] Speaker C: I don't even have a stove.
I have a cooktop.
[00:11:55] Speaker B: She has a really awesome induction burner.
[00:11:57] Speaker C: But I love that thing because she.
[00:12:00] Speaker B: Has a small space, and it's great coming from a dorm. We talked about the importance of her looking at what she has before she goes to the store and actually making a list and kind of pre planning out her meals for the week because.
[00:12:16] Speaker A: Yes, I walk in on those conversations.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: A lot because she doesn't have the luxury of, you know what? I'm tired. I'm gonna run down to the dining hall and grab a meal. So she actually kind of needs to plan out a little bit. Plus, she is also doing her lunches and breakfasts, and because she is riding so many horses a day, she needs to eat, you know, she can't live on nothing, you know, so.
[00:12:42] Speaker C: And I thought it would be kind of cool for me to kind of give like a quick rundown of usually what my schedule consists of.
[00:12:48] Speaker B: Awesome.
[00:12:48] Speaker C: And so basically I'm up at 06:00 a.m. every day, which I know to some people who probably listen are like, oh, my God, that is so early. Why are you gonna do that to yourself? There's a reason why. And it is because of the heat down here. The heat down here is so bad that if you try and work anytime after 1011 o'clock, it's, you're, you're a goner at that point. It is so dang hot that you're not gonna wanna work at that point. Like, you're not, like you're telling me you're not gonna. You're definitely not wanna go ride in an outdoor arena and be in the heat. Like, I know I wouldn't, so.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: Right, so you're up at six.
[00:13:23] Speaker C: So I'm up at six. And then usually I have breakfast between, you know, 615 630. And then I'm getting out and getting out the door, making sure the apartment's clean and taking out the trash if it's a Tuesday or Thursday.
[00:13:36] Speaker A: Important to know. We just talked about trash day around here.
[00:13:39] Speaker B: Yep. So you. So you also have to take out your trash. That's good to know.
[00:13:43] Speaker C: That's important, especially to keep the bugs down, keep the nats down and all the things.
And so then I usually grab my lunch from the fridge since I make it the night before, which makes my mornings a lot easier doing it that way. Just meal prepping and having a lunch ready to go. So I can really just grab the bag and go work smarter, not harder. Absolutely. And then I usually am with my trainers, you know, and my people. I work for about like, usually 7730 till about like noon, 130 in the afternoon.
[00:14:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:14:15] Speaker C: And so I'm pretty much out with horses. Like, I did six different horses today. And that was whether it was just treatments or just working them, you know, I was around them all day. And so that's usually what my schedule consists of. And then I usually go back in the afternoons in case if there's anything else I need to check on.
[00:14:37] Speaker B: And then afternoons you kind of have to yourself. And then you make dinner. Yep.
[00:14:43] Speaker C: I usually, it's usually pretty quiet afternoon. What? As soon as I get back from work, I usually change out of clothes, my sweaty clothes. Cause they're gross and I don't like sitting in those. And so I'll usually change, and then I'll, you know, relax for, like, an hour or two. Maybe a nap will be included in that. You know, my parents know that. Cause they've tried to call me, and I'll be asleep. And I mean, like, today. Hey, look. Yeah. Like, today I was, like, dead asleep, and then I hear the phone ring, and I'm like, I'm up. Here we go. And so. And then you do dinner, and I do dinner usually. And sometimes, like, last night, I made breakfast tacos because I was, like, missing breakfast tacos a ton. And so I made breakfast tacos with my tortillas. And which, by the way, what's with grocery stores in Florida not having tortillas? I genuinely want to know why. And because I really looked high and low for corn tortillas while I was in the grocery store.
[00:15:38] Speaker B: We found you tortillas, but we found.
[00:15:40] Speaker C: Me tortillas, so thank you, Sam's club, for that, so.
But anywho.
Yeah, so then I do. But we found them, so it's all that matters. And so I did breakfast tacos last night and then cooked them some breakfast potatoes. And I like doing breakfast for dinner here and there just to make it fun and switch it up.
[00:15:59] Speaker A: That's been a favorite of yours since you were growing up.
[00:16:01] Speaker C: Oh, absolutely. That's never been a doubt.
I think the biggest thing is learning how to do variety in your meals and making sure you're not just living off of the same thing every single day.
[00:16:11] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:12] Speaker C: So what you say if we were.
[00:16:14] Speaker B: Gonna capture, like, three big takeaways now that we're, like, first three weeks in, what are your kind of big three takeaways? As we kind of wrap up, what are your big three takeaways?
[00:16:26] Speaker A: Alligators are real.
[00:16:27] Speaker C: Yes, those are real. Oh, my.
No, they are real. They are 100% real.
[00:16:33] Speaker A: Okay, let's. Let's talk about your takeaway. I'm sorry?
[00:16:36] Speaker B: What are your three big, like, takeaways so far? And maybe we'll check in at the end of the summer and see if they've changed.
[00:16:42] Speaker C: Yeah.
Vegas, three takeaways after the first three weeks has been stay organized.
[00:16:49] Speaker B: Okay?
[00:16:50] Speaker C: Keep calm and work the plan. And it's okay if the plan changes.
[00:16:54] Speaker B: Oh, that's a good one. That's a really good one.
[00:16:57] Speaker C: That's a big one for me, that, you know, has really taught me how to be calm when things change, because, you know, change, for me causes so much anxiety.
[00:17:05] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:17:06] Speaker C: And so.
[00:17:06] Speaker B: But it's learning how it changes.
[00:17:08] Speaker C: It's okay if the plan changes. You know, sometimes, you know, it's for a reason, and that's okay.
[00:17:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:17:14] Speaker C: And so. And then the last big thing would be, you know, have fun while, you know, I fully have fun because I'm in a new state, and it would be. It's no, like, just have fun and enjoy it. You don't need to be so work, work, work all the time.
[00:17:29] Speaker B: Totally agree. And that is a good lesson for life. It is totally important to work hard, but you gotta have fun at the same time.
[00:17:37] Speaker C: Oh, yeah.
[00:17:38] Speaker B: Laugh, laugh and smile while you're doing it.
[00:17:40] Speaker C: Absolutely. But I'm doing something I love.
[00:17:43] Speaker B: Yeah. And how many people get to say that they are working and doing something that they love while they're working? I know a few people, and I. They are absolutely people that are super important to me. So you are super fortunate, and we are so proud of you and absolutely. Thanks for coming back on the podcast.
[00:18:07] Speaker C: Absolutely.
[00:18:08] Speaker B: As we wrap up this episode of modern mixtape, we'll take away the lesson from Peyton. Have fun while you're doing something you love and stay organized. Stay organized and keep calm, and we will catch you on the next episode of modern mixtape.
[00:18:24] Speaker C: Bye, guys.
[00:18:25] Speaker B: Bye.
[00:18:26] Speaker A: Bye.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: Modern mixtape is produced and recorded by Jenny and Jim Pruden, edited and mixed by Grey Bear Erikson at the Sanctuary theme song written and performed by Grey Bear Erikson.
[00:18:53] Speaker A: Never shop when you're hungry.
