Raising Godly Boys Minute

Does your son need you?

When Christina’s son turned 12, he stopped talking and sharing things with her and, instead, went to his dad for advice. Christina wondered if she would ever feel close to her son again.

But moms like Christina don’t need to worry. This separation is not only common, but necessary. Teen boys focus all of their energies on watching their dad, or dad-like figures in their life, in order to see what it truly means to be a man.

If that healthy detachment from mom is successful, young men are very likely to return to their moms in young adulthood and re-establish a great relationship.

So moms, don’t be afraid to let go.  In the teen years, your son needs to not need you.

For ideas on raising boys to be godly men,  visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you tried this Scripture memory trick with your son?

Every boy has a different learning style– auditory, visual, kinesthetic, or reading and writing. You don’t have to know exactly what category your son falls into. The key is to simply  use each learning style to memorize the verse together.

Listen to the verse through a Bible reading app. Look up the verse in a physical Bible. Make up simple hand motions for each word of the verse. Then, have your boy write out the verse each day. Don’t forget to memorize the reference, as well!

If you use this method consistently with your son, you should be able to memorize a verse a week together.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Here’s a parenting tip: buy a mini fridge.

As your son enters his teenage years, he will begin to spend more time with his friends than with you. It’s a normal part of development. But there is something that can draw any teenage boy and his friends back to your home every single time– snacks!

Buy an inexpensive mini fridge and put it in a gathering area of your home, like a back deck or a basement. Stock it with snacks, waters, and sodas, and tell your son that it’s there for him and his friends.

It’s about more than just filling their stomachs. It’s about cultivating a place where your son is safe to fellowship with friends and navigate the challenges of the teen years.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Maybe, all your son needs is a ladder.

Every day in school, Phillip, an 8-year-old, would rebelliously refuse to complete any assignments. One day, a teacher realized that Phillip had a passion for ladders and construction. A small ladder was located. Phillip began sitting on that ladder every day during school, and to everyone’s amazement, started learning and completing his assignments.

That ladder gave Phillip what every young boy craves– respect and autonomy. If your son is struggling with behavior issues, take the time to learn what he likes. Then, give him appropriate levels of freedom, such as letting him pick what chore he would like to do.

When your son feels like his thoughts and feelings matter, he will begin to be more successful in all areas of his life.

To learn about the 5 critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you watering your son’s lawn?

In their famous book, called Boundaries, Dr. John Townsend and Henry Cloud give this analogy. When you don’t teach your teenage son responsibility, it’s like your son is your neighbor who doesn’t water his own lawn. But your sprinkler waters both your lawn and your boy’s lawn, so your son enjoys a green yard without any effort on his part.

Letting your son face natural consequences in life is crucial for his success as an adult. While it may be difficult to watch your son struggle due to bad choices, he will quickly learn that hard work brings not only success, but deep satisfaction. Let go, and give your son the skills he needs to keep his own lawn green.

For more ideas for raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.