Editorial: Bob Odenkirk's reflection on fatherhood hits home

Chicago Tribune

08-08-2025

When comedian Mike Birbiglia asked actor Bob Odenkirk whom he's jealous of, the Chicago-area native gave an answer that left the podcast host speechless.
'Anyone who has little kids at home,' Odenkirk said.
'There's no question,' he continued. 'I knew what I was doing when I had kids growing up. I was being a dad. I mean, that was my job. And I didn't have to ask myself, 'What am I doing here? What do I do? And how can I be a part of this world? How can I be meaningful today?'
'I understood my purpose.'
That likely wasn't what Birbiglia expected the 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' star to say.
'Don't blink!' is the kind of advice new parents shrug off. We all think we understand what it means, but we don't really comprehend the fleeting nature of our kids' childhood while we're in it.
It would be lovely to be happy to be tired, to be glad of tidying yet to be done. Of bills to pay and dinners yet to be made, hair to be brushed, socks to be folded. Not to rush through rocking a child to sleep in hopes of stealing back a moment for ourselves.
In the moment, we don't realize that rest will come — quiet, too — when it's over.
Odenkirk offers valuable perspective for those of us raising young kids, and nostalgic camaraderie for those of us whose kids are grown. And, even for those of us who don't have children, Odenkirk's message is a reminder that it's our relationships — and, often, our self-sacrifice — that matter more than the money we make and the accomplishments we achieve.
In a society obsessed with productivity, parenting offers a rare shot at meaning that isn't tied to accolades and recognition. We would do well to value that more — not just in our words and the sentiments we express on social media, but in the policies we support and the way we structure work and family life.
We're not saying being a parent is the only path to meaning. Instead, parenting is one vocation through which you can find purpose. Odenkirk's point is that this calling offered him a clear purpose in life that brought him fulfillment, but his message focuses on the importance of finding meaning in life. Others find it through acts of service, a fulfilling career or lasting relationships.
We find it refreshing to hear someone who has achieved so much in the public eye share his reverence for something as universal as fatherhood.
Odenkirk's comments are a reminder to those in the thick of parenting that these years matter — not just for your kids, but for you. Parenthood is purpose, even when it feels like chaos.