Every boy needs things only a father can give.

In part 2 of this 2 part conversation, we continue our interview with David Thomas, a sought after counselor with 26 years experience helping boys and families. We begin to dive into understanding the developmental stages of boys into men.

• Explorer (roughly age 1-4)

• Lover (5-8)

• Individual (9-12)

• Wanderer (13-18)

• Warrior (17-25)

I also asked him "Is it our job as fathers to push or pull our sons through the stages to become men, or do they naturally flow from one into the other?"

What mistakes are common for fathers to make when fathering boys as they transition into manhood, between 7 and 20+ years old? What do we as fathers tend to focus too much on? Too little on? And what should we focus more on instead?

What is your counsel to fathers when we blow it? How do we most effectively reconnect with sons?

Very practically, what habits can we, as fathers, build into our routines with our sons to keep the lines of communication and joy open? What common qualities do you see in good, effective fathers? What do you want to say to men who fear they do not have what it takes to raise a son? (Maybe because fathering was not modeled well for them?)

If you are a father to a boy, you will wanna hear this encouraging discussion. And be sure to go back and listen to part 1.

ABOUT David Thomas: DAVID THOMAS, L.M.S.W., (Licensed Master Social Worker) is the Director of Family Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, TN. He is the co-author of ten books, including the best-selling "Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys" and "Are My Kids on Track? The 12 Emotional, Social & Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach" as well as his two latest titles "Raising Emotionally Strong Boys" and the companion workbook "Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions" (available for pre-order now!). He is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including his own called Raising Boys and Girls, has been featured in publications like The Washington Post and USA Today, and speaks across the country. He and his wife, Connie, have a daughter, twin sons and a yellow lab named Owen. You can follow him on social media @raisingboysandgirls and find the latest parenting resources at raisingboysandgirls.com.

Daystar Counseling Ministries: https://www.daystarcounseling.com/

Raising Boys and Girls website: https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/

Raising Boys and Girls podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-boys-girls/id1366344369

David Thomas has written several books on raising boys, including:

1. Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys

2. Are My Kids on Track? The 12 Emotional, Social & Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach

3. Raising Emotionally Strong Boys (available for pre-order now!)

4. Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions" (available for pre-order now!) See his bibliography on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Thomas/e/B001JS98NC?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000