Raising Godly Boys Minute

Do girls feel more emotions than boys? David Thomas, a psychologist and author, says this common belief is not true. He says boys feel just as deeply as girls, but often don’t know how to process those feelings as well as girls do. As parents of boys, it’s important that we help our sons put words to their feelings. One way to do that is to simply discuss emotions out loud. When you’re watching a TV show with your son, discuss what  characters seem to be feeling– are they embarrassed? Frustrated? You can even find charts of feelings words online and put them on your fridge. Help your son find words for his feelings, and you might be surprised to discover the range of emotions he goes through each day. For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, go to Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Are you sure your son has what he needs for this life?One mountain hike, a boy showed up without a ground pad to go under his sleeping bag.  The nights only dipped into the mid-40’s, but without a ground pad, the cold earth underneath him would have drained heat off his  body, leaving him shivering (and not sleeping) all night long.Check in with your son.  Talk to him.  Listen to him.  Make sure he has the tools he needs for success.  Is there something that is draining him every day?  Oftentimes, a boy might not tell you what is wrong– he may not know himself, just like the boy who was missing a ground pad. For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

To him, it is a big deal. When your teenage son faces rejection or embarrassment, your first instinct may be to say,  “Son, in the scheme of things, this is not a big deal.” But that might not be the best approach. Through MRI scans of teenage brains, psychologists have actually found that a teen’s amygdala– the part of the brain that senses negative emotions– is much more reactive than a child’s brain or an adult’s brain. So instead of telling your son to stop worrying, empathize. Recall a similar situation you’ve been in and how it made you feel. Suggest he does something like working on his car or walking his dog. Help him find healthy coping mechanisms, and he’ll start to learn how to better handle negative experiences. For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Do you remember when you got your first pocketknife?Cody got his first pocketknife as a birthday present from his grinning grandfather under the watchful scowl of his mother.  The first thing he did was cut himself and get a bandaid put on his finger.As he grew in years and maturity, he learned to responsibly handle his knife, and went on to teach other boys how to sharpen, care for, and safely use their knives.  But it all started with a cut.Boys need curated danger– the opportunity to run real risks, albeit small ones, to test themselves against life.  Give your son the gift of risk.  Canoeing, football, and rock-climbing all have their risks, but pay their rewards in character.For more information about raising your son into a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Have you ever seen a boy transformed?One member of an outdoor youth program was a troubled teen who had spent time in Juvie, and was likely headed for prison.  His leaders worked hard to mentor him, teach him, and praise every effort he gave, no matter how small.From annoyed disinterest to tolerance, he slowly began to listen.  To everyone’s surprise, he became one of the most faithful members, showing up for every meeting, and helping out with anything  asked of him.As he grew older,  not only did Luther stay out of prison, but he has a good job and a wonderful family, all because someone invested in his life.For information about a Proven Process that is helping boys grow into godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.