Raising Godly Boys Minute

Cara decided that her son won’t be allowed to have a TikTok account. Annoyed, he told her, “I’m the only kid in my class who doesn’t have one. Why don’t you let me have one?” Cara paused. “Well, why do you think I have this rule?”

“Well,” her son said. “I’ve heard about the TikTok challenges that are dangerous or illegal. So I guess I understand that part.”

Listening to her son’s points, instead of lecturing, led to a healthy discussion. Cara’s boy still wasn’t sure he agreed, but by the end of the talk he did understand the reasoning a little more. Plus, his critical thinking skills got a workout!

For more ideas for raising your son to be a godly man,  visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Sam asked his dad if he could quit playing the cello. Sam’s dad was surprised since Sam had always loved playing, but was discouraged because none of his friends shared that passion. Instead of allowing him to quit, Sam’s dad encouraged him to keep playing, and he helped his son find some local music groups to play in.

Years later, as Sam accepted a music scholarship to a university, he turned to his dad. “Thank you for not letting me give up.”

Extracurriculars are something you’ll have to prayerfully consider as a parent. But if your son wants to quit something you know he usually enjoys, try helping him find a new side to his existing hobby. You’ll never regret encouraging him to persevere.

For ideas for raising your son to be a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you like it when seasons change?

If you’re a parent, you know what it’s like to be exhausted. That’s because each season of your son’s life requires huge amounts of time and energy.

You may feel like your baby will never sleep through the night, or your toddler will never get potty trained, or your teenager will never stop testing your patience.

When you feel overwhelmed, take heart. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season.”

There’s a season for learning how to ride a bike, for applying Band-aids, for starting school, for sports, and for so many other activities.

Take each season as it comes. By realizing that each stage of life will soon pass, you can focus on the joys of that season instead of its challenges.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

What developmental stage is your son in?

David Thomas, a family therapist, has divided a boy’s life into five stages.

Until age four, boys are in the “explorer” phase. When they turn five, they enter the “lover” stage. The third stage for our sons  is ages nine through twelve– the “individual.” Next is stage four, the “wanderer.” And finally, there’s the “warrior” phrase– between age eighteen into the mid twenties.

When we as parents understand the phases our son is going through, it helps us develop realistic expectations for him. We also can give our son some grace. Remember that growing up can be difficult, and what he always needs most is a generous heap of love.

To learn about the five critical needs of boys at any stage of life, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you disciplining your son, or are you naming him?

Many parents are guilty of using phrases like this with our son: “You are so messy” or “You are so disrespectful to me.” But family therapist David Thomas reminds us that, to our boy, it may sound like we are “naming” him. And hearing those phrases can lead a boy to believe that he is simply a messy or disrespectful person.

Instead, David suggests reframing the situation by saying: “Son, I’ve noticed you’re stuck in a pattern of disrespect.” That way, it’s possible to address the negative behaviors, but we aren’t accidentally giving our son a “name” he may attach to his identity. He may behave badly, but his behavior doesn’t define who he is.

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