Is It True? If I Don’t Punish, I’m Permissive (with Myleik Teele)

About this episode

Dr. Becky and Myleik Teele discuss the misconception that not punishing children equates to being permissive, exploring boundaries and parenting beliefs.

Your kid is melting down in public… and you feel it: “If I don’t shut this down, I'm a pushover. My kid will walk all over me." In this first episode of our new Is It True? series, Dr. Becky and Myleik Teele take a closer look at a belief so many parents carry, though rarely question: If I don’t punish, I'm being permissive. Together, they unpack what’s underneath that fear, why punishment can feel so satisfying (and why it often doesn’t work), and what it actually looks like to hold boundaries without being harsh or permissive. They also explore how this question lands differently for Black parents, where the stakes of “not listening” can feel much higher. This is the first in a recurring format we’ll revisit, slowing down common parenting beliefs and expanding them into something sturdier, more usable, and more true.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Becky

Guest: Myleik Teele

Topics covered

• parenting beliefs
• punishment
• boundaries
• Black parents
• child behavior

Keywords

• punishment
• permissive parenting
• boundaries
• child behavior
• parenting advice

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