Raising Godly Boys Minute

Do you ever use the smiley emoji while texting? That emoji helped launch World Smile Day, which is celebrated the first Friday in October. On that day, people are encouraged to smile at people around them. Fortunately, you don’t need an official holiday to smile. It’s something you can do every day. Of course, life doesn’t always run smoothly. Health issues, work conflicts, and financial concerns...

You know that irritating song, “The wheels on the bus go round and round”? Well, sometimes, the routines of parenting also feel like they just keep rolling along, day after day. Wake up—get the kids ready for school—make breakfast—drive to work—finish work—help the kids with homework—and so on and so forth. When the routines of life feel repetitive, introduce new ways to keep boredom at bay. In th...

What is more effective– lecturing, or listening? Cara decided that her son wouldn’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...

What should you do if your son wants to quit? 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 mu...

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. Ecclesiast...

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...

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 sugge...

Ever strike a match? A single match—or even a single spark from flint and steel—can start a fire. And if provided with enough fuel, that small fire can quickly grow into a large and powerful force. The same can be said for words. A simple word of encouragement could be the spark that encourages your son to accomplish incredible things. If your son is struggling with school or sports or social acti...

Stuck in traffic? Use the time to teach your son a valuable lesson. David felt his blood pressure rising one day while driving. He said to his son, “I’m getting really frustrated. How about we turn on some music so I can think about something else?”  A few days later, David’s son was working on some math homework. He looked at his dad and said, “Dad, I’m getting really frustrated with this homewor...

He was told he’d never walk… but God had other plans. When Glenn Cunningham was eight, his legs were burned badly in an accident. Doctors suggested amputation, but his parents didn’t allow it. Against all odds, Glenn started walking again, and eventually, running. Years later, Glenn broke the world record mile time, giving all the glory to God. Just like Glenn’s experience, the world will put limi...

Want to give your son a boost of confidence? Try this. Let him plan a fun activity for your family. This could be a day or weekend trip to a zoo, a baseball game, a water park, or a concert. Give him a budget, and help him research buying tickets, planning meals, and booking a hotel. While on the trip, stay back and let your son take the lead with things like talking to the person at the ticket co...

Does your son need his grandparents? It’s true that there are many children who are raised without their grandparents who do just fine. But child development researchers have found that children who feel relationally close to a grandparent tend to show higher levels of kindness, better school performance, and a better attention span. Of course, many times grandparent relationships can be complicat...

Are you trying too hard with your son? It’s been a long day, and you and your son are raking leaves. It’s rare that you have one-on-one time with your boy, so you feel pressure to start a conversation about something important– like grades, or friends, or God. But fellow parent, the pressure is off. Just doing simple tasks together like yard work, building model airplanes, working on an old car, o...

Who will your son be in ten years? In day-to-day parenting, it’s easy to get caught up in how our sons are acting today. Today, your son will throw a tantrum when you don’t let him buy a toy at the store. Today, he might not seem to pay attention when you read the Bible with him. Today, he’ll roll his eyes when you remind him to practice his violin. But fellow parent– take heart. Your son will gro...

What if you let your son be the expert? Your boy is surrounded by adults telling him what to do– buckle his seatbelt, pay attention in class, and be nice to his sister. While this guidance is necessary, it can be frustrating for him. So what if you took some time to let him teach you something? If he’s little, let him take the lead when playing toy trucks. If he’s into video games, grab a controll...

Are you praising your boy’s effort, or his outcomes? When Mitchell achieved something, such as winning a soccer game, or a high score on a test, his parents expressed a lot of excitement, lavishing praise on him. Inside, Mitchell began to ask himself, what if I didn’t win or get a good grade? Would my parents still love me? What about you? Do you praise your son more for his good results than you...

There is a catch-22 of every boy’s life. He craves independence and freedom. But he also still wants and needs the attention and approval of his parents. Be sure to set aside some time each week for intentional time with your boy. Invite him on a hike or a fishing trip. Take him along when you need to go pick up something from work. Ask him to help you with a task, like staining the back deck. Thi...

Who’s your favorite superhero? Boys love superhero movies—especially when characters like Superman and Thor travel to earth from distant space, fight the bad guys, and save humans from total annihilation. These films capture our attention, but it’s important to remember that they’re fictional. If your son wants to talk about superheroes, mention the greatest superhero of all. Not only is Jesus all...

Time is a curious thing. You wish you had more time to enjoy life, but there never seems to be enough spare time to have a good time. That’s because time flies. You rush to work, arriving just in the nick of time. Or when at the grocery store, you grumble because you’re losing time. In the race to make the most of your time, don’t forget what’s truly important. Spend quality time with your son. He...

The tyranny of the checkout line. If you’re a parent, you probably cringe whenever you have to wait in line at the grocery store. That’s because young kids see the checkout aisle as a carnival of fun. “Dad, can I have a candy bar?” “Not today.” “What about this racecar?” “No. Put that back.” “Why not?” “Because I said so!” It’s easy to grow frustrated when kids whine for stuff at the store. But us...

Ready for some stats? Statistics indicate that most people live at least 75 years. That life expectancy equals 900 months or 27,394 days. But statistics are only an average. Some people live longer. Others shorter. Even though this is a sobering thought, Psalm 90:12 reminds us, “to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When we understand that life is short and unpredictable, we shif...

Coffee’s on! It’s Saturday morning. You had hoped to get some extra sleep, but your kids are already running around the house. As you drag yourself out of bed and pour yourself a cup of coffee, take a moment to consider this COFFEE acronym: C stands for Christ. Draw closer to him! O stands for opportunity. Parenting is a privilege, even when it tests your patience. F stands for faith. Keep Christ...

How strong is your son? When boys reach middle school, many of them take a sudden interest in how strong they are. They like to do things like arm wrestle with their dads or compete in push-up contests. Some boys even begin lifting weights to bulk up. Strength training is a great way for boys to build muscle and endurance, but boys aren’t the only ones who need exercise. As a dad, are you exercisi...

Where’s your WD-40? When a door hinge squeaks or a bike chain becomes rusty, what do you spray on it? Probably WD-40. The spray lubricant works so well that around 80% of American households have a can somewhere in their garage. But WD-40 wasn’t easy to create. Engineers developed dozens of mixtures until formula number 40 proved just right. As parents, WD-40 helps us remember that good things tak...

Shortcuts. We all kind of like them. As you drive around town, do you ever take a shortcut? Maybe there’s a light that stays red too long. Or perhaps a street that’s always packed with cars. In these cases, we like shortcuts that save us time and frustration. That’s fine for driving, but in the parenting journey, there are no shortcuts. The process of training your son to become a godly man can’t...