Exploring societal judgments on parenting choices and the fear of being labeled a 'bad parent,' this chapter delves into the challenges of modern parenting and the search for meaning in life through raising children. It discusses the existential aspects of parenting, the potential for children to add meaning to life, and the various paths to finding fulfillment beyond one's profession.
Does parenting make you a better person? Can it improve your life? Neuroscientist Erik Hoel makes the self-interested case for parenting arguing that it makes you less jaded and more heartbroken (in a good way) for how you experience the world. Listen as new father Hoel speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the universal and particular truths surrounding parenting, and why the perception presented by the media is often at odds with our own experience. Topics include different parenting styles and their effects, how parents shape children's personalities and preferences, and the famous children's books that both men love and hate. The conversation closes with a discussion of the reliability of recent studies condemning homeschooling.