Timberdoodle Review: Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young

Paperback 253 pg. retail $15

I have just had the pleasure of reading the book Raising Real Men Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys by Hal and Melanie Young.  If you are raising boys this is an absolute must read!  Written by parents of 6 boys (and 2 girls) who have "been there, done that," Raising Real Men will be a blessing to all those who read it.  Although it is written from a homeschooling perspective, it is full of ideas and wisdom that would bless a family who has chosen to send their boys to school outside the home also.

This book is not a checklist of what to do to raise godly men.  Instead, it is a book written about a family's experience of what does and does not work in the area of raising boys to be godly men.  God created men and women differently.  They do not think and act the same ways.  It can be challenging for us as mothers to be able to understand how and why are sons do the things they do.  It can also be difficult for the sons to understand why we want them to do certain things.  This book does not promise that if you do things this way, parenting boys is going to be easier, but it does present a biblical perspective on how boys think, and why that is, and what can and should be done about it.  Topics like:  Is competition wrong? What does the Bible say about leadership?What about boys and weapons? Why are boys such thrill seekers? are addressed in the book and are backed up with scripture (references are listed so you can look them up and see what the Word has to say for yourself.)  Raising Real Men  will help you to appreciate your boys being the way God created them to be while at the same time spurring them on to holiness and godliness.  It will help you understand how God designed your boys and to look past the dirt and 3 day old dirty shirt and see the man he is trying to become.

The first part of the book takes a look at some of the masculine characteristics such as: aggression, competitiveness, and a sense of adventure present in all of our boys (all the things that may drive us crazy!) When these virtues are properly understood, disciplined, cultivated and practiced they ripen into the manly virtues of an adult male.  The second half of the book focuses on the things that we want them to do that will drive them crazy like: worship, wash, use manners,be prepared to head a household , etc..unless we help them to see the purposes, principals, and goals involved.

 To see a sample chapter click here.

My 4 yo doing the monkey bars all by himself!

My 7 yo on the swing

My 6 yo carving wood

My 9 yo being silly on the swing

I cannot tell you as a mom raising 4 boys how much insight I gained into my little men and how they think and how I have already started applying what I have learned into my everyday parenting.  This book has already blessed me so much!  We as moms are nurturers by design and don't want our babies to get hurt, but we have to learn to let go and let them have some healthy adventures and competitions to help them grow up to be strong and independent men (sigh...it starts so early too!)After reading this book, you will gain new perspective, patience, and joy in your little men and a better understanding on how to use their manly traits to raise them to be the godly men God created them to be.

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To see some other great books on biblical parenting click here.

 Interested in reading other reviews on Raising Real Men click here.

I received a complimentary Copy of  Raising Real Men as part of the Timberdoodle Blogger Review team for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.
 

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