Ever watched your son stuff down his tears with a forced "I'm fine" when you know he's struggling inside?
When Ashanti Branch was growing up in Oakland with his single mom, he quickly learned that showing emotions wasn't acceptable unless they were funny or angry. "In my community, you're barely allowed to show any emotion," he shares in this eye-opening conversation. This emotional suppression led to multiple school suspensions for fighting – not because he wanted to fight, but because community rules said he couldn't walk away.
As a teacher years later, Ashanti noticed boys in his classroom failing despite being brilliant. The reason? They were hiding their intelligence because "smart wasn't cool." This observation led him to create the Ever Forward Club and eventually the Million Mask Movement, helping young men express the emotions they've been taught to conceal.
In this powerful episode, you'll discover:
Why your son might be transforming sadness and vulnerability into anger (and what this costs him long-term)
Why parents must "go first" in vulnerability before expecting children to open up
How to respond when your son says "I'm fine" but his behavior screams otherwise
Most importantly, Ashanti shares his shaken soda can metaphor for unexpressed emotions: when opened unexpectedly, they explode - sometimes creating messes that take a lifetime to clean up.
Whether your son struggles with angry outbursts, withdraws into screens, or seems perpetually "fine" despite concerning behavior, this conversation offers practical strategies to help him express his full emotional range safely.
Ready to help your son take off his emotional mask? Listen to the episode now.
As Ashanti wisely reminds us, "It's easier to raise healthy children than to fix broken men."
To learn more about Ever Forward Club:
Connect with Dajana Yoakley
Step #1 — Get the 3 Steps to Reset Your Nervous System FREE Guide or book a FREE 20 minute consult.
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Step #2 — Learn More about my signature online course: “Raising a Resilient Child”. https://www.delightinparenting.com/course
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