The Daily Dad

Your Kid is Not a Status Symbol

Dec 3, 2019

02:36

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DJ Khaled discusses the ethicality of using his son, Asahd, as a status symbol. His social media fame and album cover featuring his child raise questions about exploitation and healthy boundaries as parents.

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Quick takeaways

Children should not be turned into status symbols or extensions of their parents' brand for the sake of attention or exploitation.

As fathers, our priority should be providing a healthy and balanced childhood for our kids, shielding them from external pressures and allowing them to be themselves.

Deep dives

Our kids are not status symbols

As fathers, it is important to recognize that our children are not meant to be status symbols or extensions of ourselves or our brand. The podcast highlights the case of DJ Khaled, who has turned his son into a social media sensation with millions of followers and even named his album after him. While it may seem cute at first, it raises questions about the child's true desires and whether it is healthy or appropriate. We must set clear boundaries and prioritize our children's well-being over seeking attention or exploiting their cuteness for our own gain. Our role is to care for them, allowing them to have a normal childhood and protecting them from being prematurely drawn into the adult world.

Your Kid is Not a Status Symbol

2min

Did you know DJ Khaled has a son? And his name is Asahd? Of course you did, because if you’ve heard of DJ Khaled even once in the last couple years, it’s probably come up. His social media feed is like 100% photos of his kid (Asahd had his own Instagram account with nearly 2 million followers). His dad named his most recent album Father of Asahd. He put a picture of his kid on the cover. In interviews, he even claimed his son “produced” the album. Dad even designed a signature shoe with Asahd that they sell at Kids Footlocker.

All this for a two year old.

It’s cute at first. But if you think a little bit more about it, it raises some red flags. Is this really what the kid wants? Is this really healthy or appropriate? Or is it just a cheap way to get attention and exploit his cuteness?

Most of us are not rappers or influencers, so the ethics of a lot of those questions are sort of irrelevant. But we are dads and it’s important we draw some clear boundaries when it comes to our kids. Our kids are our kids. They are not status symbols. They are not extensions of us (or our brands). They are not here so we can impress people—at dinner conversations or in the media. Where they go to college says nothing about us. How cute they look dressed up for their birthday says nothing about us.

Our job is to take care of them, not exploit them. We’re supposed to let them get to be normal, to have a childhood—not to draw them into our adult world prematurely, or because it’s easier for us. That’s the best gift the Father of [Insert Your Kid’s Name] can give them. It might not seem as cool as a platinum record or a shoe deal or bragging rights in front of your friends, but it will go a lot further in making sure they have a healthy, balanced, happy life.

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