BOYS SHOULD BE BOYS - WEEK 8 CHAPTER 9

BOYS SHOULD BE BOYS: 7 SECRETS TO RAISING HEALTHY SONS by Meg Meeker, M.D.

Can I just say wow? Anytime I think we've reached the pinnacle of information about our boys, Dr. Meeker takes us one step farther, doesn't she?

We all know men that never left the boy stage, don't we? They're obnoxious, and I truly believe they are the biggest turn off to women. Oh, they can be fun for the moment, but they're miserable for the long haul. Women want a partner in life, not another child to parent and worry about.

Let's talk about that transition from boyhood to manhood. This is something that I have been hearing from my husband a lot recently with regards to our son. He is constantly holding our son accountable for his attitude and actions. Why? Because he knows first hand how important it is to keep both under control. When either are out of line, a life, a marriage, a job, and more are in jeopardy. A man must be equipped to lead his life and his family in a stable and mature way. People are depending on him.

One thing that really struck me was how as parents we can mess up the responsibility lesson so easily. It is so tempting to grease the rails, smooth things over, reduce the discipline, etc. However, we will not always be there. Someday, we will be gone, and our sons must be able to confidently take responsibility and make decisions.

Regarding owning beliefs- With my 3 oldest kids each of them went through a point in their teens where they chose to "own their faith." They were raised in a strong Christian home, but there came a time where they questioned if it was real and the only way. They had lots of questions and we steadily answered them. That is a an interesting time as a parent, because each person must make their own decision. When they finally make the choice, they truly live it. It's theirs lock, stock, and barrel. I haven't gone through this with the younger two yet, but I fully expect to.

I'm going to close by saying the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling is one of my favorites. (I'll include a copy of it in the comments.) It's one I periodically read to all of my children.

Okay, it's your turn! How did this chapter strike you? Did this chapter give you anything to ponder? I'd love to hear about it!