Raising Real Men Book Review and Giveaway!
January 20, 2010
Raising Real Men should be a regular bed-side read. It’s practical advice on raising godly young men was such a great reminder! Mothers, particularly, need to read this book. There is so much we need to understand about our boys’ differences, and understanding those differences is crucial to their growth and character development.
I loved what married-team authors Hal and Melanie Young emphasized regarding the importance of our training to evoke positive character growth:
“It may seem that much of the discipling process is a negative action, to stop misbehaviors. If that’s all it is, we’re missing the duty to protect, develop, and strengthen the confidence and leadership skills of our sons. We need to consciously seek opportunities to stretch and train them for future service.”
Addressing topics such as handling “adventure and recklessness”, dealing with mixed content on TV, handling money, teaching manners and so much more, the Youngs offer a solidly-written handbook for parents who desire to raise godly men.
Raising Real Men is highly recommended by Teaching Good Things!
We are giving away a copy of this wonderful book. Just leave a comment in the comment section with a question or statement about raising boys. We will be doing an interview with the authors of the book in a few weeks so we’ll try to work in your questions.
If you link to this on your Facebook and/or Twitter account you get your name entered again!
Giveaway ends January 25.
Topics: Boys!, Reviews | 147 Comments »
Comments (147)
That book sounds fantastic. I was one of 5 girls & so far God has blessed me with 3 sons (& one daughter). Having not been raised with much male influence, I am constantly amazed at the diffrences between boys & girls. I can completely understand my daughter, but often I just shake my head at my sons antics. I struggle with knowing when to discipline. There seems to be a fine line between their rough & tumble play & just plain hurting each other. We want each of our boys to grow to be Godly leaders of their homes – do you have any advise?
Renata
I am struggling with raising my 11 year old boy. I am a mother of 7 (my 11 year old being the oldest) and I DEFINITELY need to read this book. I feel like I am dealing with a little MAN right now. I think I’ll write a book called Moms Are From Earth, Boys are from Mars.
When we have a misunderstanding, my son and I both want to work out the struggle, but we have such a hard time communicating! Please pick me for the free book! God bless you.
Please enter me for a free book.
My question is, my oldest son is so aggressive and mean verbally to his younger siblings (1 sister, 3 brothers), how do I handle that? He seems to have a very strong mean streak. I know all boys don’t have this because the other boys are not like that at all. Thank you!
Looks like a book I need to read….
Id love to win this book. Ive got 3 boys, ages 23, 15, and 1 yr old and I could use all the help/advice I can get! Hope I win this! Thanks ~
When my daughter was two, I had my first (of three) sons almost eleven years ago), and I was baffled. I only had a sister growing up and I didn’t do much babysitting. I have learned it’s delightful, challenging, rewarding, and something I’d never trade for anything! Of course, I still have a lot to learn… : )
I am the Mum of 3 boys – oldest 8, Youngest is almost 3 and the the 5 year old ‘B’ is forever 5. He died from cancer 18months ago. Raising the boys now is harder as they are far apart in age. My oldest only wants to do school that he likes. Youngest is fighting to get noticed. Cancer seemed to take away the peace in our home. My boys are really difficult now. How do you help an 8 year old recover from such a traumatic change in his life? I do want to raise these boys in a godly, manly way….
Thank you for having these authors’ book on your website
I have 5 children, the 3 oldest are boys. The book sounds very interesting. I wish I could say that after being a mother for 16 years, I would understand how to be a godly mother to my wonderful gifts from God. Yet I still have questions and wonder sometimes if I’m doing all I can to bring up my children in the nurture & admonition of the Lord. Raising a godly heritage is not an easy job, but reaping the rewards makes all the effort worthwhile.
I have 3 wonderful boys 11, 8, & 4. I was privileged to hear the Young’s speak at our homeschool convention. How do you change from discipline to disciple?
Two grown daughters raised, still living with us. Two sons. Still homeschooling the boys, still many struggles being their mom and authority when Dad is not around.
I posted about this giveaway on my Facebook.
This is especially for Julie re concern for passion of your son – Do you (and/or your husband) have any? My husband and I had that same concern regarding our youngest (our middle was passionate about everything; it seemed to intimidate the younger one) but my husband has been in our local volunteer fire department for years (really probably he was tired to quit just about the time this youngest one was old enough to “catch” the passion so he stayed in for his sake) and now just tonight they have gone to start a Boy Scout Firefighter Explorer post with the fired department. ( He want to be a “real” one when he grows up!) This is a dream we’ve had for a long time; guess it just had to wait for the right time. Meanwhile, both husband and son were in Scouts where my husband moved up through the ranks there to become a trainer of trainers so he’s now aptly qualified to take over this post (all while also being the fire dept. and going back to school for a while; no wonder he was tired but it seems to be paying off). My point – let him see your passion. May things go well!
(btw, the one who was so passionate early on also burned out early so maybe he just needs time to develop)
Please enter me! I have 3 sons and need all the help I can get! I feel pretty confident on training my daughters in practical skills, but don’t have that same confidence in helping my boys develop the skills they need.
Thanks! This book looks great1!
Sounds like a great book. Thank you for entering me.
I have three boys — 17, 8, and 4. As you can see, they are spread out in age, and they have several sisters in between. My boys are dramatically different in temperment and personality, yet they all have a very competitive streak that they try to take out on their sisters. How do I feed that competitiveness when they do not have a brother closer in age or even male friends who live close who can play with them on a regular basis and get some of that competitiveness out? Thanks!
I would love to be entered! I read a sample chapter and wish I could read the rest. Thanks.
I would love to be entered in this drawing! I’m sure we’ll need all the good advice we can get in raising our (so far) soon to be two sons. Our first child (son) is 17 1/2 months and our second child (son?) is due in March. It’s such a blessing and delight to watch our little ones grow! =)
Please enter me in the draing for the book! As a mom of 8 boys, I would love to hear a veteran Momy’s advice on how to handle all of these wonderfully rowdy boys.
I strongly desire to see all of my boys grow to love our Saviour and to show strength and compassion to others around them. Thanks so much!
P.S. Praying for Hal and Melanie and their family right now as the Lord continues to bring them through this difficult time.
We have 3 boys and 3 girls – all of them are 9 and under and I have been waiting to read this book for many months now
hearing about it from everywhere 
Great need for this kind of encouragement and information in our culture now. Can’t wait to learn all the tips the Youngs have in there 
I am in need of understanding the boys more, so I can see the world more from their perspective. Thanks for the giveaway 
My boys are both a delight and a challenge. I would love to read more on raising them to be men!
I`d love to enter the draw too. I have raised 3 girls and havew 2 boys at home one 3 and one 16. They are as different as chalk and cheese. The little one is a chatterbox out doorsy kid, the elder is a quiet indoor boy. They both have lovely caring, gentle natures. They are both so sweet.
I am finding it a challenge to raise a teenage boy as I told him the other day I have never been a teenage boy or parented a boy teenager. SO MAy the God Lord teach me how to be there to guide him in the right way.
My litle one nearly 4 is so cute as he is in the question stage, ~did God make that or is it from a factory?~ ~If Jesus is in your Heart, how can he be in dadddies too? . ~ HIs little faith is developing each day.
OUr boys will stand up in the next generations as spectators or leaders. I pray we can raise them and give them the choice to be Godly leaders.
Thanks Kathy for this cool topic.
I have four boys. This book would be a godsend. If I don’t win a copy, I am definitely going to buy one! Thanks for your website- it blesses me!
I believe one of the biggest challenges in raising boys is how to give them a passion for the more noble and important things in life when they are surrounded by the distractions of an entertainment-driven society. We have three teenage boys and while they are much more focused than many of their peers, they still feel the pull of all that’s offered by our age of technology and fun.
This looks like a great book! I would love to read it for my son!
This sounds like a great book. I have 5 boys and they are so different from the girls. I have to constantly remind myself that they are different! They are louder, more active, rougher…lol…just boys!
When my 4 & 6 year old boys play imaginative games (pretendng to be animals in the forrest for example) the older boy will nearly always choose a female role- mother or sister- and act the part. He is not generally effeminate but I wonder if I should be concerned or discouraging of this behavior. Thanks.
This looks like a great book! A comment concerning my boys…They are growing up so fast, but still want to sit by Mom since I cannot hold them anymore! I love it!
With two girls and one boy, I so appreciate that “God made boys and girls different!” Our son has had his “manly swagger” since he could walk! We have taught our son that you can “kill animals for food or protection” but to never point a gun at a person (even a toy gun). So, he was about to be corrected for an obvious infraction of this rule when his big sister said, “But Mommy, I am the bear!” Would love to read this book.
Thanks for the giveaway! Boys are fun and different!
My husband has 2 jobs and comes home tired and usually watches a game. Our teenage son works hard on his school work and then ends up watching tv with his dad. What are some ideas for them to spend time together that don’t take alot of planning or energy. What are some ideas I can do with my son? Thanks for your help.
I look forward to reading the book.
This sounds like an excellent book, and would love to be entered into the drawing to win. I was wondering, how do you teach boys to be content with what they have? My 8 year old tends to always be thinking about everything he doesn’t have, and thinking of ways he can get it, rather than enjoying what does have. If I take him shopping with me, he’ll see something he wants, claim he’s always wanted it, and talk about it for days and days. We live in such a material world – it’s hard to avoid.
My 5 and 7 year olds are ALWAYS wrestling and fighting, is this normal?!?
I have 5 boys, 14 and under. My husband is a wonderful daddy and he is very involved with his boys. I am wondering about my role. What is the most important aspect of a mother that I need to be showing to my boys.
Raising boys is definately a challenge, but the joy they bring is well worth it!
Would love to win a copy of this book to read with my husband. We have a 6-1/2-year-old son (and a 5-yr-old daughter). Thank you for the opportunity!
I’m very happy to see this book offered! I’ve noticed that boys take a different approach than girls. As women we can connect to our girls from the emotional base we share as females. However, trying to reach boys can be a challenge since they are fundamentally wired a bit differently!
Holding on to the bond we’ve established with them as toddlers can be difficult when they transition to young men. I’m looking forward to the insights this book can offer!
Thanks for the give-away offer!
We have five boys and two girls. All of our children are extremely close and we thank God for each of them. I do not know if the book, “Raising Real Men” addresses the problem of how to deal with a younger son who feels he is being treated unfairly because he is not allowed to do everything is older brothers do but this has become an issue in our family. While the older boys always understood having to wait until they were older to do certain activities, our youngest son struggles with this. We have added the book to our wish list due to the overwhelming testimonies of those who have previewed it. We feel it would be a valuable resource for our family to have.
This book sounds great!!
I do have a question:
How do you motivate your boy (mine is 11) to become more ‘hands on’ rather than sit with his nose in a book?
He’ll do it if prompted several times by his father, but not with any motivation and enthusiasm as we’d hope.
Granted it may not be his natural talent, but we want him to learn these things for his own benefit in adult life.
This book sounds great! I wonder whether my instruction style with my 12 (13 in June 2010) is changing appropriately to reflect him getting older. what are some examples of what that should look like especially when i am seeing so many things still not learned? thank you so much!
My two boys are my ‘bookends’ The oldest is 22, the youngest is 6. Girls are in the middle. My boys are wild, wonderful, wacky and so much fun to raise. At times I pull my hair out wondering how in the world to handle such energy. But through God’s grace … a LOT of God’s grace!…. we go on. They are the ones that bring me to my knees the most in tears and frustration; but they are also the ones that bring many, many shouts of praise. God has blessed us with two sons in our quiver and we are blessed beyond measure! Thank you for entering me into this drawing and thank you for letting me write about my two sons
Training boys is fun, exciting and always challenging. I’ve always desired for my boys to grow into godly men, sold out for the Lord. It requires work on my part! With six sons… and four grandsons… who are all very different, I’m always open to new ideas and insights. It sounds like a great resource book for sharing as well! Thanks for the giveaway, Kathy!
I’ve got one grown son and another that’s 1/2 grown. I apppreciate anything that helps me understand these guys.
Laura
I’ve got two kids, DD7 and DS3. My biggest challenge is to address the “boy” in my preschooler, while he spends so much time with his big sister. He loves her, and emulates her in everything. It’s hard to keep the balance and remember that I want him to grow up to be a “real man” even though he’s learning so much from his sister.
Please enter me. I am a mother to 5 wonderful boys.
My question is “When do the start to “act” like men?”
We have been blessed with four boys so far. I would love to win a copy of this book!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for entering me, this sounds like a great book
One big difference I’ve noted between my daughter and my son is that my son really thrives on doing things for himself, always has, and we’re more than happy to let him. My daughter on the other hand likes to be rescued and is more than happy to let people do things for her!
[...] Over the next few weeks we’ll be tacking the questions left in the comment section. [...]