his parents eventually divorced, mainly owing to financial problems, and labeouf had what he has described as a "good childhood", growing up poor in echo park with his mother, who worked selling fabrics and brooches. labeouf's uncle was going to adopt him at one stage because his parents could not afford to have him anymore and "they had too much pride to go on welfare or food stamps." as a way of dealing with his parents' divorce, he would perform for his family, mimicking his father. labeouf remains close to and financially supports both of his parents.