TNMU #144: Guiding Boys Thru Teen Romance

Maybe Valentine’s Day is a thing for you, maybe it isn’t. But if you’re raising boys, sooner or later it will be for them. Let’s face it, guiding them thru the dating years is challenging, but it’s not impossible. In fact, you can do it well. Join Josh & Mark as they explore this topic and some practical ways you can be the guide your boy needs thru this area of his life.   Music Credit: "Funkorama" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)   Expanded Notes: While Mark dislikes Valentine’s Day, Josh looks at it as Christmas for the relationship Teen romance has such a strong sexual undercurrent, whether thru content from a hyper-sexualized culture or parent’s attempts to protect their kids from making mistakes Elevate the conversation with your boy by talking about where these desires come from and how they fit into bigger picture 3 pieces of advice for dads: Honor, serve, and romance your wife well; model for your son Life Lessons from Dad: fun yet poignant moments of teaching on the fly or with forethought, providing cues on how to treat girls (be creative and humorous as you communicate wisdom) Teach your boy to honor his future wife, long before he even knows who she is Healthy relationships are mutually beneficial; leading with a serve the other first mentality is a great place to start This is another opportunity to set the bar higher for your son The fundamental unit of human relationship is family, and it’s an everyday thing you’re building all the time