TO RESPECT WOMEN
Studies have found that toddlers, young boys in particular, are more likely to listen to their fathers than their mothers when it comes to being disciplined. This supports a dynamic where women are taken less seriously than men.
It is vital that young boys learn to take accept the authority of their mother, otherwise they will become adults that do not take women seriously.
This also moves into the realm of physical contact. When a child doesn’t get their way or get something that they want, they might tend to push or grab. That must be corrected or else it might develop into a personal culture of invading someone’s space without their permission.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GOOD MAN
Good men put the needs of their families before their own. In fact, the needs of the family ‘become’ their own needs. They are compassionate and caring on the inside even if they are strong and quiet on the outside.
Men, in my experience, have permission to be selfish and focus on their wants. Fortunately, good men ‘want’ the people around them to be happy and fulfilled. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of room for men to be more selfish.
These are things boys should be taught at a young age because learning lessons like these later in life can be very traumatic to the individual. There could be a lot of collateral damage to the people in his life.
BEING IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FEELINGS
Hopefully, you already know that the notion that men shouldn’t cry is old and dated. Men must know that it is normal to have emotions and that there are healthy ways to express them.
Rather than scolding a boy for crying, encourage him to use words to express himself and to be okay with wanting to express himself. Denying emotions leads to bottling emotions which leads to a buildup of pressure or explosions.
COMPROMISE
When a boy gets his way, he doesn’t learn the lesson of making his case for getting what he wants. Compromise and sacrifice are concepts that need to be taught because they come from the social contract, not from nature.
Compromise is a vital skill to develop from a young age. Giving and taking are natural. When one cat looks away, the other cat will eat its treat. The act of respecting the needs and wants of others needs to be taught and taught young because it is nearly impossible to integrate in an adult.
