I have been watching a series of DVDs by Dr. James Dobson- Bringing up Boys to catch a glimpse on how to handle boys, in particular Ryan as he thinks he's the king in the house and is able to manipulate all of us. This puts us in a very difficult position as we're not one who likes caning our kids, but on the other hand, firmly believes that the rod should not be spared if the situation warrants.
In Bringing Up Boys, Dr. Dobson covers many aspects of raising boys, such as the biological differences between males and females, the role of fathers and mothers in the lives of their sons, and the ill effects of postmodernism and socialism. Likely, however, the most controversial issues he covers are the feminist movement and both parents working outside the home.
During the feminist movement, proponents tried to convince society that boys and girls were the same, except for their reproductive systems, and should be treated and raised in exactly the same manner. Unfortunately, our culture eventually welcomed that concept with open arms. We were told to treat our girls more like boys and our boys more like girls. A majority of us started believing boys and girls should act the same, play with the same toys and have the same interests. Even today, masculine qualities are thought of as bad and undesirable. In many commercials, television shows and movies, the men are portrayed in a very negative way, and in many instances, the 'stupid guy'.
Dr. Dobson also feels only one parent should have a career during the child rearing years. He says "It is my conviction that those who choose to bring a child into the world must give that boy or girl highest priority for a period of time. In a very short time, they will be grown up and on their own." We only have a short time with our kids to teach and model, so they will develop a solid mental and spiritual foundation that will last their lifetime. Although there could be extenuating circumstances for both parents to work, somehow if we love our kids so much, we should make sure that our priorities in life are right. He also stressed that it is important for the dad to be around the boys during the formative years, being the role model to ensure that rules are set, relationships are built and to be the spiritual leader in the house.
It seems that with every generation, our culture gets worldlier. The focus used to be more on God and family, but has increasingly become more about what is good for each individual and who cares about everyone else. Our kids are depending on us to help them learn about God and how they should live their lives. Their trust and faith depends on it and we cannot fail them.
