Raising Godly Boys Minute

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 the car, play trivia games together. At the dinner table, tell funny stories about your childhood. Before bedtime, listen to an audiobook.

Even though life continues day after day, find ways to make the ordinary become extraordinary. Not only will this make life more fun for your kiddos, but for you as well.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

Cara decided that her son won’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 that part.”

Listening to her son’s points, instead of lecturing, led to a healthy discussion. Cara’s boy still wasn’t sure he agreed, but by the end of the talk he did understand the reasoning a little more. Plus, his critical thinking skills got a workout!

For more ideas for raising your son to be a godly man,  visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 music scholarship to a university, he turned to his dad. “Thank you for not letting me give up.”

Extracurriculars are something you’ll have to prayerfully consider as a parent. But if your son wants to quit something you know he usually enjoys, try helping him find a new side to his existing hobby. You’ll never regret encouraging him to persevere.

For ideas for raising your son to be a godly man, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season.”

There’s a season for learning how to ride a bike, for applying Band-aids, for starting school, for sports, and for so many other activities.

Take each season as it comes. By realizing that each stage of life will soon pass, you can focus on the joys of that season instead of its challenges.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 the mid twenties.

When we as parents understand the phases our son is going through, it helps us develop realistic expectations for him. We also can give our son some grace. Remember that growing up can be difficult, and what he always needs most is a generous heap of love.

To learn about the five critical needs of boys at any stage of life, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 suggests reframing the situation by saying: “Son, I’ve noticed you’re stuck in a pattern of disrespect.” That way, it’s possible to address the negative behaviors, but we aren’t accidentally giving our son a “name” he may attach to his identity. He may behave badly, but his behavior doesn’t define who he is.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 activities, give him some tips and pointers in a kind and patient way. Then, when you see progress, say, “Awesome job,” and give him a high five.

That simple act of encouragement could be the spark that prompts your son to strive for even greater success. It’s amazing how small words of affirmation can lead to big results.

For more encouragement and parenting advice, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 homework. Can we turn on some music so I can think about something else?”

Our kids learn so much from observing our behavior. If you want to raise a son who knows how to regulate his emotions, the best thing you can do is model healthy ways to deal with frustration– even with small things, like traffic.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 limits on our son’s hopes, dreams, and abilities. If your boy expresses an interest in a challenging or nontraditional career, such as a musician, artist, or actor, pray about it together and encourage him to pursue his passions. Through Christ, he truly can live out Glenn’s life verse–”Those who wait on the Lord…will run and not grow weary.”

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.

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 counter. When you return home, sit down with your son and evaluate the experience together, giving both positive feedback and constructive criticism. Your son will gain valuable skills, be challenged, and overall, get a boost of confidence that you’d trust him with such a big privilege.

To learn about the 5 critical needs of boys, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.