Bringing Up Boys
Author: Dr. James Dobson
ISBN: 0-8423-5266-X
Publisher: Tyndale
Review
--------------
Bringing up Boys is written in the style of a good friend offering advice in a casual setting. The flow of the book is somewhat random, each chapter presenting a different perspective or challenge related to the transforming of "immature and flighty youngsters into honest, caring men who will be respectful of women, loyal and faithful in marriage, keepers of commitments, strong and decisive leaders, good workers, and men who are secure in their masculinity." As Dr. Dobson points out, this is a huge task that can only be fulfilled with the wisdom and grace of God.
I don't think Dobson needs to nor does he try to prove that there is an attack on the masculine psyche by the media, the feminist movement, the homosexual agenda, and countless other entities. He cites numerous studies, makes observations of culture, and quotes many individuals to demonstrate the obvious agenda of the current culture to tear down and destroy the age-old concepts of what men are and how they are to live. This policy is pervasive and it is all too apparent the confusion and turmoil that results. Kindergarten aged boys are being suspended for showing affection to their classmates in harmless ways. Male stereotypes in the media are grotesque caricatures and our culture is noticeably devoid of any positive male role models. Instead of culture supporting and affirming parents in the developing of their boys, parents are having to fight current culture to raise them appropriately.
This is not to say that little boys' biggest problem is culture. In reality it is probably themselves. Parents of little boys have to spend a great deal of energy just to ensure they don't harm themselves beyond repair. As Dobson quotes Plato "more than 2,300 years ago, Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable." How true that is. Dobson emphasizes that boys are different than girls (no kidding), and that we need to help them channel all that energy into productive and beneficial avenues. Boys live in their own little world and it is our job as parents to help them expand that world, but also to call them out of it now and again to show them that they need to be concerned with the world of others as well.
Everyone's circumstances are different, and many families with single-parents do just fine, but Dobson is very clear that the chances of bringing up healthy, God-fearing boys are greatly increased with the presence of both a Dad and a Mom. If the family dynamics are healthy, the boys (and girls) get to see in living color how a healthy relationship between a man and a woman is supposed to work. However, most children these days learn these lessons from prime-time television because either Mom or Dad or both are not home. It is imperative that we as Dads, GrandDads, male teachers, etc. offer to our boys examples of proper masculine behaviour upon which they can model their own. Unless these examples are visible and consistent, boys will be thoroughly confused. As Dobson writes, "more than ever, boys are experiencing a crisis of confidence."
Obviously, some people won't like Dr. Dobson's Christian perspective, or his "archaic" view on masculinity. They may take exception to his patriarchal tendency and his critique of fashionable parenting techniques. However, to those people I offer a very sincere and hearty dose of reality. Children are being pushed by you to the brink of despair, and very soon will be lost forever meanwhile you will go to your grave thinking you have done them a service. Shame on you and thanks to Dr. Dobson for being "man" enough to buck the trend and expose these destructive policies.
This book contains many great words of advice for parents of both boys and girls even though it is tailored to raising boys. It is an excellent candidate to be read not just by parents, but by grand-parents, teachers and pastors. As many have stated, it takes a village to raise healthy children.
ISBN: 0-8423-5266-X
Publisher: Tyndale
Review
--------------
Bringing up Boys is written in the style of a good friend offering advice in a casual setting. The flow of the book is somewhat random, each chapter presenting a different perspective or challenge related to the transforming of "immature and flighty youngsters into honest, caring men who will be respectful of women, loyal and faithful in marriage, keepers of commitments, strong and decisive leaders, good workers, and men who are secure in their masculinity." As Dr. Dobson points out, this is a huge task that can only be fulfilled with the wisdom and grace of God.
I don't think Dobson needs to nor does he try to prove that there is an attack on the masculine psyche by the media, the feminist movement, the homosexual agenda, and countless other entities. He cites numerous studies, makes observations of culture, and quotes many individuals to demonstrate the obvious agenda of the current culture to tear down and destroy the age-old concepts of what men are and how they are to live. This policy is pervasive and it is all too apparent the confusion and turmoil that results. Kindergarten aged boys are being suspended for showing affection to their classmates in harmless ways. Male stereotypes in the media are grotesque caricatures and our culture is noticeably devoid of any positive male role models. Instead of culture supporting and affirming parents in the developing of their boys, parents are having to fight current culture to raise them appropriately.
This is not to say that little boys' biggest problem is culture. In reality it is probably themselves. Parents of little boys have to spend a great deal of energy just to ensure they don't harm themselves beyond repair. As Dobson quotes Plato "more than 2,300 years ago, Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable." How true that is. Dobson emphasizes that boys are different than girls (no kidding), and that we need to help them channel all that energy into productive and beneficial avenues. Boys live in their own little world and it is our job as parents to help them expand that world, but also to call them out of it now and again to show them that they need to be concerned with the world of others as well.
Everyone's circumstances are different, and many families with single-parents do just fine, but Dobson is very clear that the chances of bringing up healthy, God-fearing boys are greatly increased with the presence of both a Dad and a Mom. If the family dynamics are healthy, the boys (and girls) get to see in living color how a healthy relationship between a man and a woman is supposed to work. However, most children these days learn these lessons from prime-time television because either Mom or Dad or both are not home. It is imperative that we as Dads, GrandDads, male teachers, etc. offer to our boys examples of proper masculine behaviour upon which they can model their own. Unless these examples are visible and consistent, boys will be thoroughly confused. As Dobson writes, "more than ever, boys are experiencing a crisis of confidence."
Obviously, some people won't like Dr. Dobson's Christian perspective, or his "archaic" view on masculinity. They may take exception to his patriarchal tendency and his critique of fashionable parenting techniques. However, to those people I offer a very sincere and hearty dose of reality. Children are being pushed by you to the brink of despair, and very soon will be lost forever meanwhile you will go to your grave thinking you have done them a service. Shame on you and thanks to Dr. Dobson for being "man" enough to buck the trend and expose these destructive policies.
This book contains many great words of advice for parents of both boys and girls even though it is tailored to raising boys. It is an excellent candidate to be read not just by parents, but by grand-parents, teachers and pastors. As many have stated, it takes a village to raise healthy children.
posted by Tony | 7:47 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home