logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2022
38m 9s

4: I'm Giving My Kids The Childhood I Wa...

Ten Percent Happier
About this episode

"I look at them and they're in a different world. I don't know how to describe it other than, 'I don't know what this is, and I don't know what comes next.'" 


Esau McCaulley always knew he wanted to be a father. But he's now working through some unexpected, complicated feelings around being able to give his four children a carefree life. Esau describes how he grew up poor in Alabama and sometimes struggles with relating to his children's comfortable upbringing outside of Chicago. We talk with Esau about this tension: about how to be in your children’s world, when you feel outside of it. 


Esau, a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, first wrote about this conflict in a recent essay: "I Grew Up Poor: How Am I Supposed To Raise My Middle Class Kids?"

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jun 2022
15: Growing Together in Grief
Melissa Gould lost her husband Joel nearly nine years ago when their daughter, Sophie, was 13 years old. The mother and daughter processed the loss in their very own, very distinct ways: Sophie grieved mostly in silence as a young teen, not wanting to attract pity or stand out fr ... Show More
30m 13s
Jun 2022
14: 'Auntie' Is A Verb
In this episode we celebrate the caregivers and chosen family members who bring so much into our lives. Yasmeen talks to sisters adrienne maree brown and autumn brown, hosts of the podcast How To Survive The End of the World. As writers, facilitators, activists (and queer aunties ... Show More
29m 23s
Jun 2022
13: Hobbies and Hiding in the Bathroom: How Parents Spend Their Free Time
When the kids are away, how do parents play? Sure, we all have interests we can tick off and activities we like doing as grown-ups. But when that rare chunk of free time comes along, what’s going to serve you well in that moment? In this episode, Yasmeen explores how we can all f ... Show More
32m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2018
What “Problem” Kids Are Trying to Teach Us
In this must-listen—whether or not you have or even want kids—Joe Newman, the author of Raising Lions, explains his simple, systems-based approach to conflict that could have a profound effect on our entire culture. And it starts with so-called problem children. Newman knows them ... Show More
41m 50s
Feb 2023
1013: [PARENTING] "Entering the Teen Years: How to Survive (and Thrive) as a Parent"
<p>"Parenthood…It's about guiding the next generation, and forgiving the last." - Peter Krause</p> <p><strong>In this episode, I talk about:</strong></p> <div class="view-episode__description pt-1 mb-3"> <ul> <li> <p data-pm-slice= "1 1 ["list",null,"list_item",{"indent":1,"type" ... Show More
24m 28s
Sep 2023
Unpunished: Understanding Your Parenting Instincts
<p><span>As parents, we often encounter difficulties when our children bring up unresolved emotions and behaviors from our own upbringing. It is essential to be aware of these emotions and reprogram our natural parenting instincts so that we can respond with love, kindness, and u ... Show More
11m 15s
Feb 2023
The State of American Motherhood
“I thought I had already failed at motherhood, and I did not even have a child yet,” says Jessica Grose, New York Times opinion writer and author of Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood. Today, the parenting columnist joins Erica Chidi to share wha ... Show More
42m 8s
Sep 2023
A Mother-Daughter Heart-to-Heart
<p><span>Get ready for a heartwarming first on the Peace in Parenting podcast! joining me today is my amazing daughter, Esme, in a candid conversation about our parenting journey.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span>Esme, now 18 and entering her senior year, shares her unique perspecti ... Show More
18m 36s
Jun 2023
Navigating Big Feelings In Public
<p><span>I often discuss the importance of allowing children to experience and express their emotions, however, what should we do when our children have these emotional outbursts in public places, like a tantrum at the mall, in line at the supermarket, or even worse, in the middl ... Show More
13m 21s
Mar 2024
The Three Things Every Child Needs from the Grown Ups in their life
Struggling with boundary setting?  Wanting to foster secure attachment with your child?  Want a relationship with your child as they get older? Issues in school, with peers, etc., and trying to find out why? You’re going to want to listen to this episode. I dive deep into ... Show More
54m 56s
Jun 2023
What to Do if My Child Doesn’t Do Well in School
<p><span>It can be challenging to decide on the best way to approach your child&#39;s grades because each child and situation is unique. However, I would like to share some ideas today on how to manage this situation in a way that prioritizes your relationship with your child and ... Show More
13m 17s
Jun 2024
How Your Emotional Baggage Is Hurting Your Kids
<p>What hidden stories from your past are impacting your parenting today? What if the secret to better parenting lies within us? Today, I explore the profound idea of self-regulation and the underlying narratives that influence how we engage with our children.</p><p><br></p><p>I ... Show More
15m 39s