Brendan Schaub recently shared a surprisingly dark parenting moment during an episode of TFATK podcast, revealing how he used his own mortality to teach his son about gratitude.
The former UFC star explained that the conversation arose after his nine-year-old son Tiger rolled his eyes at a protein shake Schaub had prepared for him early in the morning. Schaub’s wife, Joanna, immediately called out their son’s ungrateful behavior, asking Tiger to consider how many times his own father had woken up early to make him breakfast.
While Schaub initially brushed off the eye roll, his wife insisted on addressing the disrespect. She emphasized to Tiger how fortunate he was to have a father so dedicated to his well-being, reminding him that Schaub knew he had football practice later and wanted to ensure he was properly nourished.
The lesson continued during the drive to school, where Schaub took an unconventional approach. “Buddy, when I’m gone, you’re going to be so sad,” he told his son. When Tiger, confused, asked what he meant, Schaub elaborated: “When I pass away, you’re like, ‘Oh my god, my dad took me to baseball whenever I wanted. He played catch with me. He made me protein shakes. He took me to the gym.'”
Schaub didn’t stop there. “When I’m gone, dude. It could be any day. I’m a big dude. It could be any day,” he continued, causing his son to start crying.
As Tiger got out of the car in tears, Schaub added one final message: “Make sure you ask your friends at school how many of their dads made them protein shakes. Go ahead and ask them. Ask them how many dads are pitching them BP every day.”
His youngest son Boston even tried to defend Tiger, telling his father to leave his brother alone. Undeterred, Schaub ended the conversation with: “Have a good day. Pick you up at 3, or not, because I might pass away…. I have high blood pressure. It could just [happen] anytime. Aneurysm anytime.”
While Schaub’s approach was admittedly extreme, he explained that he wanted to instill appreciation in his children for the sacrifices parents make. The comedian and podcaster emphasized that many kids don’t realize how fortunate they are to have involved parents who prioritize their development and well-being.
