Should Our Children See Us Cry? (S9E40) 10-1-2026Should Our Children See Us Cry? (S9E40) 10-1-2026
Mr Joe’s Bipolar Podcast
Mr Joe reflects on crying in front of his children, sparked by a photo of his son playing baseball, and links it to his mental health, grief, and past breakdowns. He talks about how showing real emotions, without making kids responsible for them, can help children understand that feelings are normal and survivable.
50:10•2 Oct 2026
Should Our Kids See Us Cry? Mr Joe on Parenting, Tears and Mental Health
Episode Overview
- Crying in front of children can be healthy when it is paired with reassurance that they are not to blame and do not have to fix the adult’s pain.
- Hiding strong emotions teaches kids that feelings are problems, whereas honest expression shows them emotions are normal and temporary.
- Children notice far more than adults think, so a calm, age-appropriate explanation of why a parent is sad is better than vague secrecy.
- Letting kids see a parent cry and then carry on with daily life helps them learn that sadness passes and does not mean everything is falling apart.
- Children should never be treated as emotional support for parents; they need to be loved and protected, not turned into therapists.
“Our kids don't need a superhero, guys. They need you. A real human being who has all those feelings.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety and mental health while raising kids? This episode of Mr Joe’s Bipolar Podcast zooms in on one deceptively simple question: should our children see us cry? Mr Joe, speaking to those living with mental illness or substance abuse, uses a single photo of his son pitching in a baseball game as the spark for a bigger chat about emotions, parenting, and time flying by.
One minute he’s laughing about being an old-school DJ with cassette tapes, the next he’s in tears over how fast his 10-year-old is growing. That sudden emotional swing will feel very familiar if you live with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or are in recovery. He talks openly about chronic pain, eye problems, changing his Seroquel dose without approval, and those terrifying memories of Cymbalta withdrawal. But the heart of this episode is emotional honesty with children.
He contrasts his own upbringing—where men “just didn’t cry”—with the reality that his kids have seen him fall apart, both from happy tears and from deep distress. Rather than pretending everything is fine, Mr Joe argues that tears can teach kids that feelings are normal and survivable, as long as they’re not made responsible for fixing a parent’s pain. As he puts it, “Our kids don’t need a superhero, guys. They need you.
A real human being who has all those feelings.” This is especially relevant for parents in recovery who worry that showing vulnerability might scare their children. Mr Joe suggests age-appropriate honesty, reassurance, and letting kids see that sadness passes and life goes on. If you’ve ever hidden in the bathroom to cry, blamed “allergies”, or worried you’re damaging your children by feeling too much, this conversation may hit hard—but in a comforting way.
Are you ready to rethink what being a “strong” parent actually looks like?
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