Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Deep
Dive.
For those of you just embarkingon the incredible, sometimes
overwhelming, but alwaysunforgettable journey of new
parenthood, you know those earlydays are a whirlwind.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
A beautiful blur of
first smiles, tiny yawns and a
million little moments you swearyou'll remember forever.
But let's be honest in themidst of sleep deprivation and
endless cycles of feeding andchanging, those precious details
can well they can start to fade.
You might find yourselfthinking I want to hold on to
this, but the sheer exhaustionmakes it a real challenge.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
It truly is, and
that's why we're taking a deep
dive today into somethingincredibly valuable for new
parents the power of journaling.
We want to explore how thispractice can be more than just,
you know, jotting down notes.
It can be a way to capture theessence of these fleeting
moments and navigate the intenseemotional landscape that comes
with welcoming a new life.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Exactly Focusing on
how journaling can serve as a
real anchor during this uniquetime.
Many new parents, as you likelyare, are looking for effective
ways to preserve these earlydays, and you might already be
aware of resources designedspecifically for this.
Like the journals offered byLestallion, they certainly put a
lot of thought into what newparents need.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Absolutely.
Our mission today is to reallydig into how journaling can be a
powerful tool for you, not justfor logging feeds and diaper
changes, but for documentingthose incredibly special
memories the first time yourbaby truly looks into your eyes
and recognizes you the way theirtiny fingers curl around yours.
It's also about processing theprofound emotions that come with
(01:37):
this life shift and ultimatelycreating a lasting keepsake that
you and your child willtreasure.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
And we also want to
highlight what features in a
journal can truly make adifference for a busy,
sleep-deprived new parent tryingto hold on to these precious
early days.
Because, let's face it, amidstthe joyful chaos, finding a
simple and effective way topreserve these memories is key.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Right.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
It shouldn't feel
like another task on an already
mile-long list.
You need something practicaland well user-friendly.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Precisely so.
Let's start with thefundamental question why is
journaling so important for newparents like you?
We all know how time seems towarp and speed up when you have
a newborn.
What feels so incredibly vividtoday, that first gummy smile,
the way their tiny hand grippedyour finger, can become a hazy
recollection before you know it.
(02:26):
Oh, definitely.
It's almost as if the sheervolume of new experiences pushes
some of those early delicatemoments to the periphery.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
It's so true, you're
in the thick of it and you think
, oh, I'll never forget this.
But then weeks blur into monthsand suddenly you're trying to
remember the exact sequence oftheir first words or the funny
little noises they made in theirsleep.
That's where a dedicatedjournal becomes such a valuable
tool.
It's a way to intentionallyanchor those moments in time, to
give them a tangible form thatyou can revisit.
Think of it as creating yourown personal archive of these
(02:57):
irreplaceable early days.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
And it's not just
about the big milestones, you
know, the anticipated firststhat everyone talks about.
It's also about those tiny,seemingly insignificant everyday
moments that are just asprecious the specific way your
baby snuggles into your chestduring a feed, a funny little
face they pull when they tastesomething new, a sweet habit you
notice forming as they driftoff to sleep.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah, those little
things.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
These are the
intricate details that truly
paint a rich picture of thoseearly days, and they're often
the first to fade in thewhirlwind of new parenthood.
A journal becomes a repositoryfor these fleeting joys,
creating a lasting keepsake thatgoes far beyond just dates and
weights in a baby book.
It preserves the feeling ofbeing in those moments.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Absolutely, and for
you, the listener who's
navigating this incredible newlandscape, journaling can be a
wonderfully focused way topreserve these memories without
adding to that feeling of beingconstantly overwhelmed.
It doesn't have to be long,elaborate entries, even a few
lines each day.
Capturing a single specialmoment, can make a profound
difference over time.
(04:00):
Now, as we mentioned, many newparents like yourself are
seeking out resources to helpwith this, and you might be
looking at various journalsdesigned for this specific stage
of life, perhaps evenconsidering something like a
Lestallion journal.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Right.
There are certainly manyoptions available, and what's
interesting is how certainfeatures can really cater to the
unique needs of new parents.
Take, for example, the paperquality.
The stallion journals, as youmay know, use a 120 GSM
wood-free paper.
Now, beyond just feelingluxurious, what's the practical
benefit of that for someonejuggling a newborn?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
That's a great
question.
I remember talking to a friendwho was a new mom and she
mentioned that she'd often bewriting in her baby journal
during those hazy nighttimefeeds, sometimes with a
less-than-ideal pen in hand.
Yeah time feeds, sometimes witha less than ideal pen in hand.
You know she was so gratefulfor the thick paper because even
if she pressed too hard or theink flow wasn't perfect, it
wouldn't bleed through and ruinthe other side of the page.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Oh OK.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
It kept her precious
little observations neat and
readable, even when she wasrunning on fumes.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Exactly.
It's about practicality.
In those chaotic moments youmight be quickly jotting down a
note about sleep patterns or afunny sound your baby made, and
you might just grab whateverwriting utensil is closest in
the middle of the night.
Right With thicker,high-quality paper like 120 GSM,
you gain that peace of mindknowing you don't have to worry
(05:19):
about bleed-through.
This not only keeps yourjournal tidy, but also makes the
act of journaling itself alittle more enjoyable.
Even when you're feeling sleepdeprived and perhaps a little
clumsy, it removes a potentialsource of frustration.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
That makes perfect
sense.
And speaking of durability inless than ideal circumstances,
another feature oftenhighlighted is a durable cover.
Listallion uses a soft fauxleather.
It feels nice, but how doesthat translate into real-world
benefits for a new parent?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Well, think about the
realities of life with a baby.
Spills are inevitable.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Oh, definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Diaper bags become
black holes where things get
tossed in haphazardly.
That soft faux leather coveroffers a significant level of
resilience.
It can withstand thoseinevitable little accidents, a
rogue spit up, a leaky bottleand the general wear and tear of
being constantly on the goRight and the general wear and
tear of being constantly on thego Right.
This helps ensure that yourjournal, this increasingly
(06:13):
precious repository of earlymemories, actually lasts and
remains in good condition to belooked back on in the future.
It's not just about aesthetics,it's about the longevity of
your keepsake.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Definitely a
practical consideration.
I remember my sister, when herfirst was born, used a simple
notebook that ended up gettingpretty battered in her diaper
bag within just a few months.
She wished she'd had somethingmore robust to protect those
early entries.
Now the Stallion journals alsofeature numbered pages and a
built-in table of contents.
That sounds very organized,which, as we said, is something
(06:44):
many new parents likely crave.
How does that actually help inthe day-to-day process of
capturing memories?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
What's so useful here
is how these seemingly small
organizational features can makea big difference in the long
run.
Imagine you're trying to recallwhen your baby first truly
smiled not just a reflex, but agenuine eye-crinkling smile.
Instead of flipping aimlesslythrough pages trying to remember
roughly when it happened, thenumbered pages and table of
(07:11):
contents allow you to create aquick index of those special
moments.
You can jot down First RealSmile, page 15, and easily find
it later.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
It transforms your
journal from just a collection
of entries into a moreaccessible and searchable record
of your baby's journey.
It's about making it easy torevisit those specific moments
without feeling like you'reexcavating through an
unorganized archive.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
That's a fantastic
point.
It makes the journal a muchmore functional tool for
reminiscing.
The description also mentionsspacious pages.
That seems prettystraightforward, but why is
having ample writing space a keyfeature for a parenting journal
?
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Well, as you touched
on earlier, those early days are
just brimming with tiny,nuanced details.
Having spacious pages gives youthe freedom to capture those
details fully without feelingconstrained.
You might want to jot down notjust that your baby smiled, but
the specific context who washolding them?
What silly song were yousinging that elicited that
(08:05):
reaction?
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Right the story
behind it.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Exactly More.
Space allows for richer, moredescriptive entries, capturing
not just the event but thesurrounding atmosphere and your
feelings in that moment.
It even allows for theflexibility to perhaps paste in
a small photo or a little notealongside your written entry,
without making the page feelcluttered.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
And then there are
the dashed line pages which are
mentioned in some parents'experiences.
D dashed lines.
Is there a particular benefitto that for new parents who are
often writing when they'reexhausted?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
well, it might seem
like a subtle detail, dashed
lines can actually besurprisingly helpful, especially
when you're writing.
In those moments of extremetiredness.
They provide a jingle guide tokeep your handwriting more
aligned and legible, even whenyou're operating on minimal
sleep okay, I can see that.
It's a small feature that cancontribute to a more pleasant
journaling experience, ensuringthat your precious memories are
(08:58):
recorded in a way that you'll beable to easily decipher years
down the line.
My own handwriting definitelytakes a nose dive when I'm tired
, so I can certainly appreciatethe value of that.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Another feature that
sounds incredibly useful for
those interrupted moments is aribbon bookmark.
It seems so simple, but in thelife of a busy parent, simple
often equals genius.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Exactly when you're
constantly being pulled in a
million directions which ispractically the definition of
new parenthood a ribbon bookmarkbecomes your best friend.
You can quickly mark your lastentry, mid-sentence, mid-thought
, and easily find your placeagain, even if you only have a
spare 30 seconds to jotsomething down before you're
needed elsewhere.
It prevents you from losingyour train of thought and
(09:43):
encourages those small, frequentbursts of journaling, knowing
you won't have to spend preciousminutes searching for where you
left off.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
And finally there's
the inclusion of a built-in back
pocket.
That sounds like a thoughtfullittle addition, but what kind
of small treasures might a newparent find useful to tuck away
in there?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Oh, think about all
those little tangible reminders
you might accumulate in thoseearly days the hospital bracelet
with their tiny identificationinformation.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Oh yeah, the tiny
bracelet.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
A soft lock of hair
from their first little trim, an
early ultrasound photo that youstill cherish, a sweet
congratulatory note from agrandparent.
The built-in back pocketprovides a safe and convenient
place to keep these small flatmementos alongside your written
memories.
That's neat it keeps everythingrelated to that period together
in one place, creating an evenricher and more multi-sensory
(10:33):
record of this special time.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
So it really does
seem like these features are
designed with a deepunderstanding of the specific
challenges and joys of newparenthood.
It's more than just a blankbook.
It's a tool tailored for thisunique experience.
Now, as the saying goes,features tell but stories sell.
Do we have any examples,perhaps from friends or family,
(10:57):
of how these kinds of featureshave played out in the real
lives of new parents?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Absolutely.
I remember my cousin Emilyduring those early hazy weeks
with her first baby, liam.
She was trying to keep track ofhis erratic sleep patterns,
often jotting notes down in themiddle of the night.
One particularly exhaustingevening, while feeding him, she
had her journal open on thenightstand and accidentally
knocked over her cup of tea.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
Oh no.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
A few drops splashed
onto the page where she had just
written about Liam's firstproper giggle.
She was so relieved that,because of the quality of the
paper in her journal, the inkdidn't bleed or smudge,
preserving that precious littlemilestone despite the late night
mishap.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Oh, I can completely
picture that scene.
Those sleep deprived momentsare ripe for little accidents.
What's another example thatcomes to mind?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Well a close friend,
sarah, was meticulous about
documenting her daughter Chloe'sdevelopment.
When Chloe started babbling,sarah would try to write down
the different sounds she wasmaking.
When it came time for Chloe'sfirst birthday party, sarah's
extended family was asking aboutwhen Chloe had first started
making those specific sounds.
Family was asking about whenChloe had first started making
those specific sounds BecauseSarah had been using a journal
(12:02):
with numbered pages and wouldmake a quick note in the margins
about new sounds.
She could easily flip back tothose entries and share the
details.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Oh, that's great.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
It was so lovely to
see her confidently recall those
early communication attempts,all thanks to that simple
organizational feature.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
That's such a
wonderful way to share those
early developments with lovedones.
It turns the journal into aresource for connection.
One more story.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yes, this one
involves me.
Actually, when my sister hadher first baby, I remember
gifting her a journal with asoft, flexible cover, thinking
it would be easier to carryaround in her already
overflowing baby bag.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Good thinking.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
She later told me how
grateful she was for that.
She said there were countlesstimes when the journal got
squished between diapers, spareclothes and who knows what else,
but the flexible yet durablecover always protected the pages
inside.
Yeah, it never got bent out ofshape, which was a small but
significant comfort during atime when everything else felt a
(12:57):
little chaotic andunpredictable.
Comfort during a time wheneverything else felt a little
chaotic and unpredictable.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It really highlighted
the value of a cover that can
withstand the demands of dailylife with a newborn.
Those stories really illustratehow these seemingly specific
features can address the veryreal everyday challenges faced
by new parents.
It's not just about aesthetics.
It's about creating a practicaland resilient tool for memory
keeping.
Now what about some actual tipsfor using a journal effectively
during this time?
How can new parents make themost of this practice, perhaps
(13:28):
even leveraging some of thesehelpful features we've discussed
?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
One of the simplest
yet most effective tips is to
keep the journal readilyaccessible, as mentioned before,
by the bedside table, in thediaper bag, wherever you spend
the most time with your baby.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Yeah, keep it close.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
The portability of a
softcover journal certainly
makes this easier.
Even if you only have a fewfleeting moments during a nap or
a quiet feed, having thejournal within reach makes it
more likely you'll jot somethingdown.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
And what about those
times when you're just so
utterly exhausted that formingcomplete sentences feels like a
monumental task?
Speaker 2 (13:59):
That's where the
beauty of bullet points and
short phrases comes in.
You don't need to write lengthyparagraphs every time.
Just a few key words or a quicksentence fragment can capture
the essence of a moment.
First proper belly laugh today.
Loved the way they held myfinger during feeding or finally
slept for a two-hour stretch.
You can always add more detaillater if you wish, but even
(14:22):
those brief notes will serve aspowerful memory triggers.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
We also talked about
incorporating photos and little
mementos.
How can new parents easilyintegrate those into their
journaling?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
The spacious pages in
many journals, including those
we've been discussing, providethe physical room to tape in a
small photo or a little keepsake, and that built-in back pocket
is ideal for temporarily storingthose items until you have a
moment to adhere them to therelevant page.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It keeps everything
together in one dedicated space,
creating a more comprehensiverecord of this period.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I love the idea of
writing little letters to your
baby in the journal.
That seems like such ameaningful way to capture your
hopes and dreams for them.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Absolutely, and with
the generous page count you
often find in these types ofjournals, you have ample space
to do just that.
You can write about yourfeelings, your observations of
their developing personality,your dreams for their future,
even little anecdotes that youwant to be sure to share with
them someday.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
These letters can
become incredibly treasured to
look back on in the years tocome, both for you and for your
child.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
So, when a new parent
is thinking about choosing the
right journal to accompany themon this journey, what are the
key characteristics they shouldbe considering?
We've touched on quite a few,but let's bring it all together.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
It really boils down
to a few essential elements that
cater to the unique demands ofnew parenthood.
First and foremost, as we'veemphasized, paper quality is
crucial for a pleasant writingexperience and for the long-term
preservation of your entries.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Right the
bleed-through issue.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Especially
considering potential spills and
the use of various pens.
Second, consider thepracticality of organizational
features like numbered pages anda table of contents, which can
make it so much easier torevisit specific memories.
The layout of the pagesthemselves, whether you prefer
lines, dots or even blank space,is also a personal preference
that can impact your journalingexperience.
(16:12):
True, and finally, don'tunderestimate the value of a
durable and perhaps easilyportable cover that can
withstand the rigors of dailylife with a baby.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And it sounds like
considering these aspects can
really help a new parent find ajournal that will not only serve
as a repository for memories,but also as a supportive
companion during this incrediblewhirlwind time.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Exactly.
It's about choosing a tool thatfits seamlessly into the
reality of new parenthood,making it easier and more
enjoyable to capture thoseirreplaceable early years.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
So, to bring our deep
dive to a close, it's clear
that journaling offers aremarkably powerful way for new
parents like you to document thefleeting beauty of early
parenthood.
It's a means of navigating theemotional peaks and valleys, of
preserving those preciousmemories that might otherwise
become hazy with time and ofultimately creating a legacy of
love and remembrance for bothyourself and your child.
(17:07):
And thoughtfully designedjournals with features that
cater to the specific needs ofnew parents, like durable covers
, premium paper that resistsbleed through and organizational
aids, can truly enhance thisexperience, making it a more
accessible and rewarding way tocapture those irreplaceable
first years.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
That's a wonderful
way to summarize it and as you
continue on this extraordinaryjourney, perhaps take a moment
to consider what are the small,seemingly ordinary moments
happening today that you knowwill bring a wave of nostalgia
and joy to remember years fromnow.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
What are the unique
stories unfolding in these early
days that you want to be sureto tell, and what will be your
chosen way to preserve the magicof these fleeting moments for
yourself and for your growingfamily?
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Such important and
beautiful questions to ponder.
Thanks so much for exploringthis with us today.