The Big Questions Kids Ask

When joey's seven-year-old daughter Murphy asked him "What is life?" at bedtime, it sparked a profound journey into how we navigate our children's biggest questions. This thought-provoking episode delves into the challenges of explaining concepts like death, existence, and meaning to young minds still forming their understanding of the world.

Following a family therapy session, joey shares a fascinating approach to helping children with "labyrinth minds" - those who bounce between big questions seeking answers that may not exist. The therapist's brilliant strategy involves "board meetings" where parents and children write down questions, brainstorm possible answers, and use a "thermometer" to find responses that feel right, even when they're not 100% certain. This acceptance that life's biggest questions rarely have definitive answers becomes a valuable lesson for both children and parents.

The conversation takes a deeply personal turn as the hosts reflect on breaking generational cycles in parenting. Growing up in homes where emotions were often suppressed, these dads are consciously creating space for emotional expression and vulnerability with their own children. Joey's newfound comfort in saying "I love you" to his ailing father demonstrates how these shifts in parenting approach can heal across generations.

Of course, no episode would be complete without the hosts' trademark humor. A heated debate about toast preferences (is level four too crunchy?), the drama of the "matching plate era," and the race against time when milk hits cereal all provide comic relief while reinforcing the podcast's authentic approach to fatherhood.

Whether you're wrestling with how to explain mortality to a curious child or just trying to survive breakfast with kids who suddenly care deeply about plate colors, this episode offers both wisdom and solidarity. Because sometimes the most meaningful parenting happens not in having all the answers, but in being willing to explore life's biggest questions together.

What questions are your children asking that leave you searching for the right words? We'd love to hear your experiences in the comments or on social media.