The J-Pops: Attempting Parenting in Japan

Months 12, 14, & pregnancy week 17. We have a couple of one year olds now, so is it time to start disciplining them? We discuss an article that takes a hard approach to that question. There's also some daycare talk, some first words, and we toy with the idea of giving up our toys. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Years 1, 1+ & pregnancy week 15. It's a party up in here! Or it was this past weekend. Koda's first birthday party was a success so Mark and Justin decided to give some tips on how to make sure every birthday party is too. There's also talk of formal atire for a daycare ceremony and ways to get kids to stop hitting you. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPo...

Months 11, 13 & pregnancy week 13. Today the Pops talk about time and how to manage that bucking broncress. We also get into shots, post-breakfast clean up, and babies feeding themselves. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 11, 12 & new pregnancy week 11! Time flies when you're stressed out! This week Mark & Justin get into the ins and outs of daycare procedures. There's a lot... They also discuss parenting stress and how they deal with the ever changing parental landscape. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 10 & 12. Mark and family are back in Japan. He talks a bit about the trip, and somehow we wander into a classic US vs Japan gun culture discussion. Don't worry--we end up being right about everything. This episode is mostly about the updates, and Mark breaks some news that just may change The J-Pops forever. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or...

Months 10 & 1 year (almost)! Koda goes to America & Nico gets shot with a new vaccine. Hear about both of their experiences and what a BCG vaccine actually is. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 9 & 11. Babies are dynamic little creatures. Some baby stuff gets way harder through their first year, other things get easier, and other things get harder, then easier, then harder again. We pick that apart this episode, and we talk about getting into daycare, tips for flying with babies, and much more. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email...

Months 9 & 11. Justin made it safely back to Japan after his family's long visit to America! We discuss his experience traveling back and how it compares to his trip to America now that his son is older. We also talk about our emotions, how terrible JAL is, and a scary feeding incident. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com...

Months 8 & 10. Early edition! Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in another country lets you pick and choose the traditions you want for your family. Today we discuss what our holidays abroad look like, plus IKEA, bruises, chess, cold temperatures, and Satan. I mean Santa. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 8 & 10. This week we are joined by soon-to-be J-Pop Joe Fowler to discuss he and his wife's pregnancy journey. We get into IVF, balancing schedules, sleeping arrangements, and even some JLPT bashing. Joe can sometimes be found on his own podcast Ishikawa Summit to Sea @ISummittosea but mostly his own Twitter @KumaYama100. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JP...

Months 7 & 9. Justin sits down with Jessica Riley, a 12-year veteran of the Head Start childcare program. She gives her advice on several best practices for raising young kids, with topics including educational toys, schedules, baby-proofing, conflict resolution, conscious discipline, and much more. The J-Pops also talk tattoos and the fame that likely awaits their boys. Please send any questi...

Months 7 & 9. Justin & Mark decide it's time to put the dad knowledge to the test by, well, taking an online test. There's also some tooth talk, poop talk, and new carseat talk. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 6 & 8. Mark has a quiz this week about baby best practices, and Justin has the answers, mostly. We also talk Halloween, discipline, and a Japanese nursery rhyme. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 6 & 8. This week Justin talks about terrifying his child at a local farm and Mark shares his experience hauling his child across the country on a road trip. New experiences for everyone! Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 7. Well, it finally happened. We've had the first sick J-Baby. Today, we discuss the road back to baby health, some baby firsts, and our ideal family sizes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 7. This week the J-Pops get in their way-back machines and talk about how they ended up in Japan in the first place. They also talk about ways to save for a child's college tuition in both the US and Japan. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 6. J-Pop Justin's family is in the USA, and that meant a 13-hour flight with baby in tow. Today we share tips on flying with a 6-month-old, and we talk US baby life in general. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4 & 6. This week we're joined by our wives, otherwise known as the J-Moms, and our two babbling baby boys. We discuss things from our wive's perspectives and go over some 4 & 6 month old milestones. Please forgive any sound issues with this episode. We were al sitting around one mic, which made editing very difficult. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at...

Months 4 & 5. This week, we come clean about bath time. We have a couple hundred baby baths under our belts at this point, and we share all the tips and tricks we've happened upon so far. We also discuss what we've changed about ourselves since having kids. And finally, the dad jokes take a tragic turn. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email...

Months 3 & 5, still. This week we discuss Mongolian spots that can occur on many babies around the world, but not all, as well as developments in their digestive tract that can lead to odd pooping schedules. We also have some important updates at the end, so hopefully you'll make it that far. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpo...

Months 3 & 5. This week we look into mysterious nighttime fussiness. We also talk music and somehow end up recommending an Insane Clown Posse song. Surprising twist: the "J" in J-Pops stood for juggalo all along. We also take a ruminative look at our lives in Japanese. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3 & 5. Lots to cover this week. We get into toys, shopping, turning walls into chalk boards, 100 days photo ops, and yet another round of vaccines. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Week 14 & Month 4. Summer is here, and we have the sweaty babies to prove it. Today, we talk about how to navigate the heat with a tiny, delicate child, plus the usual updates, language troubles, and superior dad jokes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Week 13 & Month 4 (still). This week we discuss when to introduce solid foods & the differences between Japan & the US/UK. We also discuss 4 month check-ups, ways to get a US baby their social security number from Japan & talk weird dietary habits.

Week 12 & Month 4. This week, a J-Baby tries and fails to open a bank account and keep his milk down. We tackle infant banking difficulties and somehow end up with a plan to reorganize the US congress. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.