Zac Simmo

30 Before 30

The ‘30 Before 30’ list is a challenge I’ve set myself of 900 (30 items done 30 times) activities to complete before I turn 30 in 2023. The list is long and ambitious, in the posts below you can follow along with what I’ve already achieved and see where you can lend a hand. Click on the images below the graphs for a more indepth breakdown.

Hold 30 Babies

Growing up as a boy I feel, maybe due to my shy persona or the assumptions of common gender roles, that I didn’t get much exposure to babies and how to hold/interact with them. I recall as a teenager, the times I did hold a baby they would usually burst into tears and the mother or another experienced female in the vicinity would quickly retrieve the child from me and console it. I’ve put this on the list as my paternal instincts are sharpening as I approach the age of 30 and I want to be ready with some child care skills when I have one of my own.

As I type this, sitting in a public library, there are two babies less than 10 metres away from me. I still haven’t worked out the best strategy for walking up to strangers and requesting to hold their newborn (and then ask them to take a photo of my holding their child) so I’m depending a lot on people I know to have children and let me hold them. If you are reading this and have a baby please reach out because I need help with this one!

1. Flynn 29.01.22

Flynn is my friend Caz’s son. Caz and I worked together in outdoor education. At the start of 2022 we both attended a retirement party for another friend of ours and I got to meet Flynn for the first time.

[Insert picture here]

2. Tex 22.05.22

Tex is my cousin Jay’s son. She came through Sydney with and popped into my parents so we could meet the new members of her family.

[INSERT PICTURE HERE]

3. Marcy 24.6.22

Marcy is my colleague Claire’s daughter. Claire brought Marcy to a charity telethon event my team was holding. As Claire volunteered her time on the phones, I volunteered (during paid work hours) my time to have a cuddle with this cutie.

[INSERT PICTURE HERE]

Zac SimpsonComment