We have two boys who are six years apart (they’re nine and three). And yet, despite the great age difference, it isn’t uncommon to walk by the bedroom and see them rolling around on the floor, wrestling.
Other times, I find them sitting quietly in a rocking chair together, with Older Brother reading books to Little Brother. Last week our youngest son said to our older son, “I love you! You’re my best friend!” It was so sweet!
My heart’s desire is to raise these two boys to be God-fearing, God-honoring, God-glorifying men. Men of principle, courage, and strong character. I long to know how I can encourage them to be real men and not stand in their way, hindering them from reaching their full potential.
This book has given me some of the understanding that I was searching for. From spiritual training to homeschooling to other practical issues, I found it to be very helpful.
This is one of my favorite quotes from the book:
“The most important effort we can make for our boys’ spiritual health is to live the Christian life day to day and hour to hour. That’s the pattern of Deuteronomy 6. But notice the first part of that passage–the word of God in your heart. You can’t possibly live as a Christian before your children if you’re not sure you know the Lord yourself. Boys are very sensitive to hypocrisy and they deeply desire to know their leaders are worthy of leading, that they believe and live what they say they do.”
~Quote from Raising Real Men
I loved that the authors, Hal and Melanie (the parents of six sons and two daughters), seem to be very intentional in raising their sons. This book has given me lots of practical ideas to implement with my own young boys. If you have boys in your home, I recommend it!
Disclosure: I received a free book for review purposes, but the fact that it was free in no way influenced my review.
Thank you for writing this!
Whenever people say they are having two boys back to back or two girls back to back they talk about how perfect it is that they will be able to play together. I have noticed though, that this is not the end all!!! My 3 boys are 5 years and then 3 years apart, making the oldest and youngest boy 8 years apart and they ALL have such sweet, loving, wrestling, Lego building moments together! What joy it rings my heart seen little brother lean against trusted big brother or big brother taking care of little brother! God crafts each family so perfectly!
Thanks again for talking about the "other side"
Thanks for that review! I have 9 and 4 year old boys and will definitely be checking out this book soon.
Our boys are almost the same ages! If you get a chance to read it, I hope you find it as helpful as I did.
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Joy!
Let me invite you and your readers to check out our blog at http://www.RaisingRealMen.com and join us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/raisingrealmen and Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/raisingrealmen. We'd love to fellowship with you there!
Oh, and we are just about to start a new session of our live, interactive webinar series, Boot Camp 9-12: Getting Geared Up for the Teen Years, for parents of 9-12 year old boys. Check it out here: http://www.RaisingRealMen.com/bootcamp.
Loved reading your review and your guys are so cute (Don't tell them I said so, nine year old boys don't like being called cute!)!
Melanie young
Hi Melanie!
I was just getting on the computer to send you a link to my review, but you beat me to it!
Thanks so much for your comment, and for adding the extra helpful information.
Thanks also for sending me the book to review–it was a blessing to read!