Into the wild: Tips on raising boys

A woman once recounted how she had raised four girls without a single toy gun in her house. She felt toy guns promoted violence and did not think her children should play with them. That was all fine and dandy until she had her fifth child, a boy. He was born with a powerful desire to explore, an uncanny ability to mimic any motorized sound, and a deep need to protect the fort. In his book Wild At Heart John Eldredge gives mothers a powerful tool, insight. “Eve was created within the lush beauty of Eden's garden. But Adam, if you will notice, was created from the earth itself. Genesis makes it clear:man was born from the outback, from the untamed part of creation.” Do not attempt to restrain your boys longing for undomesticated adventure. Instead work with him to harness his emotions and desires. If he gets too wild in the house simply bring him outside, and allow him to blow off his energy by running around the house. Time him to see how many sticks he can pick up in the front yard during a ten minute allotted window. Most boys love a challenge. Lastly, homework will most likely be more of a challenge with a young boy rather than a small girl. Typically, boys have more energy to expunge. If they have been at school all day, allow them some time to unwind before asking them to sit, and work at a desk again. They will have a better attitude, and a more willing heart if they have been able to climb a tree, or ride their bike before they have to sit back down and do their studies.