Walk into any coffee shop, and the chances are high that you’ll see two women talking. Sitting across from each other, the women will look each other in the eye and discuss deep and personal issues.

You probably won’t see two men sitting and conversing in the same way. Why?

Well, as Dr. Emerson Eggerichs points out, it’s a matter of gender differences. Women prefer face to face communication, while men tend to prefer shoulder-to-shoulder discussions.

As a parent of a son, this is deeply valuable information for you to consider. When you’re concerned about your son and would like him to share his struggles, get beside him. Take a drive, hike together, or stand on a dock side-by-side and fish. Your boy will most likely prefer those settings over going to a coffee shop.

To learn about raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.