Raising Godly Boys Minute

Music to your ears? Ludwig van Beethoven is recognized as one of the greatest composers of all time. But did you know that he wrote five sonatas and his famous Ninth Symphony while completely deaf? The secret to his success was his passion for music. That and a whole bunch of hard work and dedication. As parents, we may not have the musical genius of Beethoven, but we can still create wonderful ha...

Got a minute? Each day contains 1,440 minutes. That sounds like a huge number, but those minutes are quickly used up. On average, we sleep 408 minutes, work 500 minutes, and eat for 67 minutes each day. Getting ready in the morning, driving across town, and running errands devours even more time. This leaves only a few hundred minutes available for actual free time. The question is: How are you sp...

Is it time to focus? If you have a magnifying glass, take it outside on a bright sunny day. Show your son how to raise or lower the lens until a beam of light focuses on a single point. With a steady hand and a little patience, that concentrated light becomes so intense that it can catch dry grass on fire. Use this activity as an object lesson. Remind your son that if life ever becomes so busy tha...

Do you have a security camera? Around 1 million American homes are burglarized every year. That’s why home video-camera systems are more popular than ever. But wouldn’t it be great if you could as easily monitor your son’s activities when he’s away from home? That way you could make sure he isn’t being harassed by school bullies—or tempted to do wrong when hanging out with his buddies. Even though...

Scared much? The command to “fear not” is repeated throughout the Bible. Not just occasionally, but a total of around 150 times. The repetition seems overblown, but God knew we needed the reminder. This is especially true when we consider the many secular influences that are trying to conquer the hearts and minds of our sons. The war on gender, the ridicule of biblical teaching, the erosion of tra...

Detour ahead! As you drive down the highway, you’ll encounter many road signs. But one of the most annoying is the detour. When our plans of traveling to our destination are hindered, we grow frustrated by the delay and inconvenience. But detours don’t only happen on the highway. The parenting journey also has them. Perhaps you love football, but your son doesn’t. Maybe he likes to read, but you’d...

How do you talk to your son? When Cynthia’s son was little, she frequently called him pet names, like “Bubs.” One day, when her son was twelve, he said “Please don’t call me that anymore.” Cynthia was surprised, but then later, she understood. Her son was becoming a man, and wanted to be treated as such. Follow Cynthia’s lead– when your son becomes a preteen, drop any childlike nicknames and begin...

Here’s a parenting strategy to try with your son…try the “walk and talk.” When you need to address a behavior or share some difficult news, it can be tempting to lecture your son. But if you sit him down, look him in the eye, and start talking, your boy will probably avert his eyes and lose focus. Try this instead. Lace up your walking shoes, put the dog on its lead, and take your son for a long w...

Does your son have a gremlin? An author named Rick Carson created a metaphor out of the destructive creatures from the popular 80s movie. He suggests that negative thoughts are like gremlins– destroying our self esteem. With the rates of depression continuing to rise for young men today, it’s safe to assume that our sons struggle with their own thought-gremlins. So what can we do to help them “tam...

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 lif...

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 simpl...

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 basemen...

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 lad...

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 na...

Let’s be honest– the behavior of teen boys can be baffling! But what if there’s a simple reason for their baffling behavior? When your son is mean to his sister, irritable about his homework, and disrespectful to you, stop and ask yourself– is he just tired? He may be staying up too late playing video games, or getting up incredibly early for swim practice. Researchers have found that, when childr...

Dealing with emotions can be difficult … for all of us. But for your young son, feeling frustrated, disappointed, or jealous can be all-consuming. Here are some steps you can take to help your son work through his feelings. First, find a list of emotion words online. Post that list on your fridge, and discuss what each word means. Second, draw a thermometer and talk to your son about different lev...

What if there are benefits to keeping your son busy? Children and teens are spending more time in front of screens than ever before, and their mental and physical health is suffering for it. But instead of focusing on getting your son away from the screen, what about trying to keep him so busy he doesn’t have time for his phone or TV? It may take lots of trial and error to find what your son likes...

“The kids are alright” was an iconic rock song by the Who. But unfortunately that phrase no longer rings true when it comes to young men in our society. Boys today are struggling with rising rates of depression and anxiety, and underperforming girls at every academic level.  The boys are “not alright.” So what can we do? The key is to go back to the basics. Boys need less time sitting down in scho...

This parenting tip may surprise you. When your son is struggling with anger, your instinct may be to address his behavior. But did you know that, in boys, anger is often just a mask for a much deeper issue? Child development specialists have found that, in boys, slamming doors, yelling, or being mean to a sibling can actually be signs of intense anxiety. When your son seems angry, consider what’s...

Going to theme parks and ball games with the family isn’t cheap, and requires parents to say “No” to souvenirs, snacks, and other requests. That’s okay. Boys need to learn moderation and the value of a buck. But let’s say your son “gets it” and shows genuine appreciation. If you can swing it, next time – before you go through the gate – announce, “This is a splurge outing.” Budget some extra cash...

Next time you’re at Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby, spend about twenty bucks on a nice set of colored markers and a half dozen assorted poster boards. Then stash them in secret at home. In the next year or so, your son is going to come to you as bedtime approaches with a look of terror on his face. “I need to make a poster for school that’s due tomorrow!” You could say, “Too bad, too sad. Hope you learne...

Most of the time when your son messes up, he knows it. He has instant regrets. But it’s not easy to apologize. Guilt, ego, and fear get in the way. He may feel unworthy of your love and forgiveness. Consider the Prodigal son when he found himself broke, lonely, and even yearning for pig food. He was prepared to tell his father, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your...

When your son starts questioning why God sometimes doesn’t make sense, turn to Isaiah 55 and explain that God’s thoughts are “higher” than ours. Then, if you can, pull a cross stitch or embroidery off the wall. Turn that tapestry over so your son sees the tangled zig-zag of knots and loose threads on the back. Explain how that’s “our view,” and that life does get messy. Then turn it over and revea...

The best way to stay one step ahead of the latest technology might be … to ask your son! Whether he’s 9 or 19, there’s a good chance he knows more than you. Do a bit of research about emerging technologies in gaming and networking and then ask your son about it. He may be eager to show off his tech knowledge. Treat him as an authority. Tell him you feel out of the loop and say, “Can you help me?”...

Initially, a boy’s worldview comes from Mom and Dad. Beginning around the age of 4 or 5—no matter what you have planned for his schooling—he will begin to learn things from other avenues. Cool, fun stuff. And maybe dangerous stuff. Some is taught quite intentionally in textbooks and lesson plans. Other worldviews and attitudes come from friends, relatives, the kid down the street and the many scre...