Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons Paperback – May 19, 2009

Dr. Meeker has written two of the most important parenting books I have ever read. In fact, if you are only going to read two books on raising kids, I recommend this one, and  Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know I just read this volume recently. We have two daughters and a son, but as a dad I thought to myself: "hey! I'm a man. How hard can it be to be a role model for my son?" Having daughters scared me. I knew I had to read up, and do a really good job. For whatever reason I assumed raising a son would be easier.It isn't.Boys have complex emotional lives too. They can be sensitive, caring, and can be hurt. They can be resistant to instruction, rebellious, and aggressive. This book gives a wealth of really good information on how to raise happy, well adjusted, sons. My own father was a liberal, a drug user, a secularist / new ager, and a narcissist. This, of course, is the exact sort of man who is also prone to violence in the home. I did NOT want to be the sort of dad to my kids my father was to me. Seeking therapy, reading books, and a developing a deep and abiding faith in God (and allowing oneself to be finally fathered in an authentic way, by Him) are really the only ways we can hope to begin to break destructive cycles and be the sort of parents we ought to be. If you have unhealthy patterns from your own parents to the level that I had them, reading a few books will not be enough. Seek therapy. And when you do seek therapy, make sure your therapist is both a parent, and a man or woman of faith. You need healing. Not hubristic manipulation from someone who is not a parent themselves, and likely never will be. You also don't need someone who is against, or even just lukewarm about, a faith in God. You cannot be as good a parent as you need to be without Him.Dr. Meeker is an excellent pediatrician with years of experience as a doctor and a mom. You aren't going to find a more competent individual to write a book like this. The book is excellent, and needs to be read widely.You will notice very few negative reviews of Dr. Meekers books. She writes in an inclusive manner, for people of all religious backgrounds. Her conclusions are all backed up in solid data and years of real world experience. Plus, she has serious academic credentials. Where you will get a negative review of her work, it centers on the fact that she believes a belief in God, and knowledge of who He is, is extremely important, and needs to be passed on from parent to children.Secularist parents are rare of course. The data are clear on the birth rates of atheists and agnostics vs. believers in any of the world's religions. The wages of secularism are death. But the data from psychologists is also clear: a healthy degree of religiosity in fact makes people much happier and more resilient to life's challenges. Therefore, that tiny minority of parents who insist that Dr. Meeker should "shut up about God" and chose to pursue a purely secular / atheistic pattern in raising their children are doing their children a disservice. That is a shame. It is a harm the children will hopefully survive okay, but it will definitely put them at a disadvantage in future life when dealing with the inevitable setbacks and challenges life will present.I recommend Dr. Meeker wholeheartedly to all parents without any reservation.

I've bought and given away many many of these books and others from Dr. Meeker. Can't say enough. If you have boys, you simply MUST read this book. If you know of those who have boys, buy it for them simply as an investment in their family. An absolutely indispensable book for those of us raising sons.Also, if you are a son yourself (like I am - now a dad of 4 kids), read this book. It has really helped me process many things in my own upbringing. There were many times when I read this book that I was reading it more for myself than for how it helps me with my sons. I have bought and given away about a dozen of Meeker's books. She is simply heads and shoulders above other such writers, both secular and Christian. I am a Christian pastor and professor, and her perspective is great in that it spans both a Christian and non-Christian audiences. It's common grace, for you theological types! Pure wisdom. It's like reading Proverbs - helpful for all who invest the time. Get two - one to read and one to give away. You will NOT be disappointed with the book; I promise.AND - if you are a Dad with daughters, you simply MUST buy her book Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters. I have two girls, and that book shapes every day (also the 30-day study guide! Amazingly practical and helpful!). Parents, you owe it to yourself and to your kids to read Meeker. There's a reason she is a favorite of radio hosts like Dave Ramsey and Focus on the Family. But what she says transcends all sects and speaks to anyone who is a parent. Besides the Bible, there is no other author as influential in our home than Dr. Meeker. I have read SCORES of parenting books, many of which are extremely good, but none as good as what Meeker has done.If you read one book for your sons' sake, read this one. Period. Take that as sage advice from a New Testament and Theology professor, local church pastor, and a father of 4. If you are a mom of sons such as a single mom, read this!! ALSO, then get her new book, "Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men." You will not be disappointed. I assure you!If you read one book for your daughters' sake, read "Strong Fathers Strong Daughters."I have seen Meeker's wisdom and practicality shape my home and my children into wise, strong leaders of their peers. It's amazing what a kid can do when their parent(s) have really invested in their growth and development by reading books like these. We see big things every day.

This is a great book about being a father to boys.Some reviewers say this is fundamentalist-religious, anti-feminist, anti-single-mother, or whatever. Ignore them. This book is simply very good, common sense advice and you should buy it and inculcate its lessons.As a man who grew up without his father and a bad step-father, I know in my gut some things were very wrong with the way I was raised. Is this a slam against my mother? No. It's simply the realization that she couldn't do it all and that I needed a better man in my life than I had. Now that I am father to a son, who do I look to for advice? Where do I turn? How can I avoid making the mistakes made with me? How can I help my son to grow up emotionally fitter than I was (or am)? How can I help him to be successful without being overbearing? How can I stop the generations-long family tragedies and try to have a good family? This book helps.Dr. Meeker gives voice to what I recognize went wrong with me, my dad, and his dad. And by articulating it, by giving a name to the problems, I can meet those problems head on, avoid them or overcome them. I'm very thankful that she wrote the book and I am glad I bought it. It was a painful read at times because it dredged up bad memories that really made it clear just how poorly I was raised, but at the same time it fills me with hope that I can raise a happy and healthy son.By the way, I bought the Kindle edition and with that I was offered a discount to buy the audio edition for only $3.99. I took a chance and bought it. I'm so glad I did, and it's a testament to how great Amazon is. I reckon that I will buy hard copies of this book and give them to friends and family.

A must read for mothers of boys!Simple with lots of examples and many practical tips to put out in practice

Osom buk

This book, together with the one about raising a girl by the same author, presents an excellent mix of experience and scientific research on very common parenting issues

It gives a greater understanding of boys. The writer, a doctor, thinks that we should not be so afraid to keep boys from getting injured that we stifle their natural instincts to be very active. The writer encourages letting them do things that make us mothers cringe. She just gives insight to what makes boys tick. I'm glad that I read it & I find it worth keeping in my library, loaning out, or giving as a gift. Joan Barton

Amazing book!