The Musers The Podcast
Episode 27: "The Incredible Journey"
Release Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Craig (“Junior” Miller), George Dunham, Gordon Keith
Producer: Peter Welpton
Theme: Absurdity, insight, and banter on late-in-life parenting, generational changes in raising kids, and the joys and anxieties of parenthood.
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the theme of parenthood—especially the hosts' experiences as late-in-life and early-in-life fathers. Driven by a touching listener letter about becoming a single mother by choice, The Musers reflect on their own parental journeys, the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids, and how parenting culture has evolved. The conversation moves from personal stories to big-picture parenting philosophies—covering everything from birth order and generational divides, to discipline, social media, and “free-range” parenting.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Listener Letter: The Journey to Motherhood
- [00:36] Amy writes in about her quest to become a single mom, outlining her 3-step plan—buy a home, secure a better job, pay off debt—and how she fulfilled her dream of motherhood through deliberate planning and tenacity.
- Craig: "When we talked about resolutions...there's an example of someone who made a plan, had this goal and fulfilled it." [02:44]
- George: “Stuck with it for a period of years too. That's really impressive.” [02:56]
2. Parenthood at Different Ages: Late vs. Early Starts
- Craig shares the journey to becoming a father at 55, including the reluctance, his wife's desire, and the “tipping points”—advice from his sister, a friend, and a fictional TV moment.
- Craig: “The love of a child has never been known to make anybody miserable.” (Advice from his sister, Claire) [06:21]
- Craig: "Life is short. Do it all." (Inspired by ‘Billions’ TV show) [07:31]
- George reflects on being a young dad at 22—overwhelmed, unprepared, but feeling “invincible.”
- George: “I was still overwhelmed with joy when our first was born…Once that moment happened… I finally get this whole thing about a circle of life and that I have a purpose.” [09:35]
- Peter: “You grew 15 years overnight?” [11:05]
Late-in-life Parenting: Pros and Cons
- Greater patience, financial stability, and perspective.
- Looming awareness of age: “Am I going to be around for my daughter's high school graduation?” [12:21]
- Craig: “If I had had a child in my 20s, I don't think I would have been a very good parent. I think I'm so much more patient now.” [12:32]
- Biological realities: physical aches, fear of not being present for milestones.
- Craig: “It takes me a while to stand up where 20 years ago I would have popped up without thinking about it.” [30:43]
Young Parenting: Stress, Energy, and Rewards
- George: “Those days when we didn’t have two nickels…those were some of the best days.” [14:22]
- “Regardless of age, you don’t feel prepared…there’s that switch that goes off: okay, we’re doing this.” [15:17]
3. Dealing with Societal Perceptions
- The hosts rattle off celebrity late-in-life dads (Tony Randall, Pacino, Jagger, Steve Martin, Letterman) and admit generational attitudes toward age and parenthood have evolved.
- Craig: “All the 55-year-olds we knew, our friends’ dads, they looked like they had one foot in the grave.” [18:04]
- Both George and Craig agree social pressure/insecurity fades once your child is born: “This is our family and this is the way we’re going to do it.” [19:27]
- Craig details frequently being mistaken for his child’s grandparent:
- Craig: “…they were asking me, has she ever been here? …So, I am her parent.” [20:15]
4. The Realities of Early Childhood Parenting
- Craig talks about sleepless nights, bonding over changing diapers, and the primal timelessness of caring for an infant:
- Craig: “Even the first three or four months, the sleepless nights, waking up every 90 minutes for feeding… I found those three months to be so incredibly rewarding.” [23:21]
- All: Universal parental panic when sent home from the hospital with a newborn: “Time to go home. And we were like, whoa, way too soon.” [16:06]
- Generational support: the food delivered by grandmothers “tastes like love and care.” [17:14]
5. Parenting Philosophies & Cultural Shifts
Birth Order
- The hosts tease a future deep-dive into birth order, noting they cover all major birth positions.
Patience and Calmness with Age
- Craig: “Now it’s just cute…She takes a crayon and draws on the wall…now I just laugh.” [12:57]
Screen Time and Influence
- Children develop faster ("adult" things from 4-year-olds) due to exposure to media and adult conversation.
- Craig: “I believe kids today are developing quicker…things that come out of our four year old’s mouth…” [25:28]
- They try to limit TV: “45 minutes a day at most.” [27:09]
Keeping Parents “Young”
- Learning about cartoons, music (Taylor Swift!), and being tuned to “the young language.”
- Craig: “The kid keeps you young…it also keeps you mentally [young].” [28:41]
6. Parental Anxiety: The Risks Facing Kids
Worry for the Future
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Host fears:
- Being present for developmental milestones due to age
- Exposure to emotional and relational harm (“Meeting the wrong guy/girl…that abuses her” [34:23])
- Bullying—especially for girls, who “launch guerrilla warfare for years behind the scenes” [33:44]
-
Limiting parental control: “As a parent, there’s only so much you can do.” [35:06]
-
Letting go as kids become adults:
- George: “They do come back…they realize…they weren’t always the best kid…and the one thing that can carry them through [is]: Mom and Dad really do love me unconditionally…” [38:07]
7. Discipline Styles: Spanking, Timeouts, & More
- Debating spanking: It's much less common, but all were spanked as kids. None advocate it now—but acknowledge the compulsion, the “threat as deterrent,” and cultural shifts.
- Craig: “I cannot imagine striking my child in any way…” [45:12]
- George: “Arguing with a teenager is like arguing with a trunk.” [41:15]
- Timeout as a modern alternative.
- Problem with children talking back more in families that rejected all discipline: “Your kid calls you Judith.” [48:44]
8. Free-range vs. Helicopter Parenting
- Free-range parenting defined (letting kids roam, 80s style) versus today’s helicopter parenting.
- Craig: “When I think about free-range parenting our daughter, I don’t know, I get a little sick to my stomach.” [50:42]
- Parental bias: “I'm also a little less likely to free-range parent with a daughter than I would be with a son…” [53:04]
- “It's easier if I do it” trap: Parents need to back off so kids build independence.
- Peter: “…when a parent starts saying ‘it's just easier if I do it,’ you need to…take a break…” [54:28]
9. Biggest Modern Parenting Challenge: Technology & Social Media
- Refers to The Anxious Generation book, contending smartphones are a bigger threat than stranger danger.
- Craig: “I'm more vigilant about keeping her away from [smartphones]… I hope she doesn't get her first phone until she's 40.” [55:46]
- Strong support for school phone bans: “...kids end up being happier...they socialize with each other.” [56:07]
- Peter and George both note their own children didn’t get phones until much older, compared to trends now.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Parenthood's Impact:
- Craig [58:31]: “George, you were right all those years you told me there's nothing like it. It's the greatest thing in the world.”
- George [58:54]: “And as a single adult…I would look at these other families and…never really noticed other kids. But now…I notice everything about everybody's kids.”
On the Emotional Whiplash of Raising Teens:
- George [38:05]: “They do come back…their head stops spinning around and then they look at you and will say or do something normal.”
- Peter [37:33]: “As parents…I guess you are a God for a long time to that kid. And then all of a sudden you’re the stupidest person on the earth to them.”
On Generational Changes:
- George [56:22]: “My two oldest…I think they got theirs when they turned 16. And…it was not an automatic.”
On the Joys of Becoming a Parent Late:
- Craig [58:33]: “She’s brought so much joy and color to our lives, and there are hard moments, but 95% of the time, she's great and loving and funny, and I love it way more than I thought I would.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:36 — Amy’s letter and her roadmap to single parenthood
- 03:00 — Introduction to hosts’ parenting experiences
- 07:31 — “Life is short. Do it all.” (Billions quote and existential shift)
- 12:21 — Fears about being a late-in-life parent
- 16:06 — Being discharged from the hospital: universal new parent panic
- 19:27 — Social perceptions of young vs. old parents
- 23:21 — Sleepless nights and bonding moments with a newborn
- 25:28 — Commentary on how fast children’s brains develop now
- 27:09 — Limiting screen time and favorite kids’ shows
- 34:23 — Parental fear around relationships and child safety
- 41:15 — “Arguing with a teenager is like arguing with a trunk…”
- 45:12 — On spanking and modern discipline
- 50:42 — Free-range parenting: nostalgia and anxiety
- 53:04 — Bias toward protecting daughters
- 55:36 — The smartphone as the “bigger danger” to kids
- 58:31 — Final reflections: the lasting joy of parenting
Final Thoughts
This episode balances humor and humility with real talk about the intense journey of raising children. The Musers’ open and honest stories show the universality of parental fears and joys—whether you’re 22 or 55 when you start. The chemistry and authenticity of the hosts, along with their willingness to laugh at themselves and each other, make even the weightiest topics feel approachable and meaningful.
Closing message: If you want to understand the real, messy, rewarding experience of parenthood (no matter your age), or just enjoy very funny men wrestling with what it means to be a dad in today’s world—this episode’s for you.
How to Reach the Show
- Send your own “incredible journey” story or feedback: themuserspodmail.com
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