As a single mom I often worried about raising my son alone. I grew up a total girly-girl; boys were a total mystery to me, now I was left to navigate raising one on my own. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed at the task that lay before me. As a woman I wasn’t sure I had what it took to raise a boy. I didn’t know anything about cars or trucks or superheroes, but I soon learned that what I did have to offer was just as important.
Boys need to know how to empathize with others. As mothers we need to point out how certain things make people feel. When your three year old takes a toy from a friend, it is important to talk to them about how that would make them feel. As he gets a little older and won’t let his little sister play basketball with him and his friends, Mom needs to step in and talk to him about how that makes his sister feel.
Be a safe place to fall. Boys are going to venture out and explore their world, but they still need a safe place to fall back on. They need to know that you are still there for anything whether it’s kissing their knee or talking about the cute new girl that moved in down the street, they need to know that it is safe to come to you, and that you are always there for them.
Teach him responsibility. Boys often need a little nudge from their mothers in the responsibility department. Boys need moms who will teach them to keep their rooms clean and to keep their homework organized. Make him be accountable for his actions. If he makes a poor choice, let him take the consequences for it.
Get down in the dirt and play with them. When you get down and play on their level it builds your relationship and makes them feel more connected to you. You don’t have to know a lot about cars and trucks to play together. They’ll fill you in on what you need to know. The important thing is that you are playing together. You may not be able to tell the superheroes apart from each other, but you may be surprised at how much you really have to offer.