Real Conversations with Chase & Ben: Parenting around work
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In this episode of MPW Digital's Real Conversations, hosts Chase Parm and Ben Craddick dive into the emotional and practical challenges of parenting while balancing demanding work schedules. The conversation centers on a listener's poignant question: how to not feel like a 'crappy parent' when working long hours—6 a.m. to 10 p.m.—with a two-hour commute. The hosts share personal stories, including Chase’s emotional call from his daughter during a prolonged Ole Miss baseball tournament, and Ben’s reflections on being present despite frequent travel. They emphasize that children don’t remember hours spent together but rather the quality of experiences, advocating for mindfulness, intentional presence, and small gestures like leaving notes. The discussion also touches on the broader theme of work-life balance, with Ben revealing his dream of a legal or political career before entering the family business. The episode closes with gratitude for community, legacy, and the enduring power of presence in parenting.
Children remember experiences, not hours—being fully present during time together matters more than physical availability.
Small, consistent gestures like leaving notes can create lasting emotional connections, especially when time is limited.
Work-life balance isn’t about equal time, but about quality presence and intentional engagement during shared moments.
It’s okay to feel guilty—acknowledge the struggle, but focus on what you can control: your attention and emotional availability.
Long-term fulfillment in parenting comes from the child’s future understanding, not immediate validation.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Show Intentions
Chase and Ben open the episode with a warm welcome, setting the tone for a shorter but meaningful conversation. They preview the day’s focus: balancing parenting with demanding work lives, and acknowledge the emotional weight of time scarcity.
The Listener’s Question: Feeling Like a 'Crappy Parent'
“I know that in the moment you're feeling like crap. I mean, look, because my job, thankfully, I'm very blessed with that, does not have that level of time commitment and I get to work from home for most of the time.”
Personal Stories of Absence & Presence
“She's asking me to come home, like having just a total breakdown over it. And you know you have no – it just is what it is and you feel like such crap in the moment because you have no answer other than I'll be –”
The Power of Quality Over Quantity
“A kid doesn't have memories of their parents in numbers of hours. They have them in number of experiences.”
Practical Tools for Presence
Ben shares his habit of leaving notes for his wife when she travels, and both hosts suggest small, consistent actions—like notes, eye contact, and shared rituals—as ways to build emotional connection despite time constraints.
“She's asking me to come home, like having just a total breakdown over it. And you know you have no – it just is what it is and you feel like such crap in the moment because you have no answer other than I'll be –”
“A kid doesn't have memories of their parents in numbers of hours. They have them in number of experiences.”
“It's not about the hours. It's about the moments. It's about the connection.”
Hosts
Chase Parm
person
Ben Craddick
person
Ole Miss
organization
Hillary
person
Kyle
person
Emmy
person
Lemuria Books
organization
John Edmonds
person
Carly Ann
person
Fast Growing Trees
organization
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