While there is lots of conflicting information about the methods we should use in raising our sons, the ultimate goal is the same: to raise them to be good people.
We look up to heroes, men of honor, great husbands, and fathers, and we want our sons to be like them one day. This doesn’t need to be as wide-reaching as saving the world, but rather as in saving the day for the people around them every time they get a chance.
It would be great for parents if love, integrity, and a good set of principles would somehow be part of our sons’ DNA. But it is more about social learning, and so a parent’s voice and behavior are crucial for their son’s development.
In a world that promotes gender equality, we should teach our sons more about empathy and nurturing, and less about male entitlement. There are still many cultures that believe such qualities weaken men, when they actually just make humans human. The heroes we mentioned earlier possess them — we want our sons to become men, not tyrants.
Raising a son means hard work, but the outcome is always rewarding.
Flavia Medrut is a freelance writer, researcher and part-time psychologist. She believes music, long walks and a good sense of humor are imperative in keeping one’s sanity.