Was today a good day? Did my kid seem happy? If the answer is no, even a little, it can feel like the whole day failed, like you failed.Dr. Becky sits down with <a href="https://katebowler.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kate Bowler</a>, a professor at Duke University, to make the case that happiness might be the wrong thing to optimize for in the first place. Happiness, Kate argues, is really just ease: a hundred small circumstances lining up so nothing feels hard. Which means chasing it for your kids can quietly turn you into what Kate calls a professional happiness manager, smoothing every rough edge before it reaches them.Joy is different. It doesn't need conditions to line up. It shows up in weird obsessions, a dumb dance in the kitchen, a dry pasta fight, a moment at the worst point in Kate's own life (she spent years navigating a serious cancer diagnosis) when something good found her anyway. Kate and Becky talk through what kids already understand about joy that adults forget, why so many moms don't believe joy is even available to them, and a practical exercise Kate uses to name the resentments that quietly block it.Read <a href="https://katebowler.substack.com/p/a-blessing-for-parents-who-are-trying" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Blessing for Parents Who Are Trying</a>, adapted from Kate Bowler’s latest book, <a href="https://katebowler.com/books/joyfulanyway/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joyful, Anyway</a>.*Thank you to our partners for making this episode possible:<ul><li><a href="https://myskylight.com/becky" rel="noopener noreferrer">Skylight</a>: Get $30 off a 15-inch Skylight Calendar at <a href="http://myskylight.com/becky" rel="noopener noreferrer">myskylight.com/becky</a></li><li><a href="https://www.girlscouts.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Girl Scouts:</a> If you have a daughter in kindergarten through 12th grade, visit <a href="http://girlscouts.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">girlscouts.org</a> to learn more</li><li><a href="https://yotoplay.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yoto</a>: Get 15% off your order with the code DRBECKY15 at <a href="http://yotoplay.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">YotoPlay.com</a>. New customers only, ends October 31, offer valid on select products only. Terms apply.</li><li><a href="http://care.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Care.com</a>: For a limited time, you can use the code BECKY35 to save 35% on a <a href="http://care.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Care.com</a> Premium Membership.*</li><li>Offer applies to initial term of <a href="http://care.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Care.com</a> membership subscriptions. Not applicable to add-on features or non-renewing access fees or services. Expires 10/31/26. <a href="http://care.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Care.com</a> does not employ or place any caregiver. Background checks are an important start, but they have limits. Visit <a href="http://www.care.com/safety" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.care.com/safety</a>.</li></ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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