How do you teach your boys to be men in 2024?

2d ago1 min read

I'm struggling with how to raise my sons to be real men with integrity and backbone when everything around them is telling them something different. I want them to stand up for what's right, look people in the eye, keep their word, and take responsibility for their actions. But how do you instill that when they're growing up in a culture that doesn't seem to value those things anymore? What are you guys doing with your own kids?

8 comments199 views

Comments(8)

JJordan M.New Dad18h ago

Teach them to work hard, keep their word, treat people with respect, and admit when they're wrong. That's a man of integrity in any era. The details change but those fundamentals don't.

JJosh M.New Dad19h ago

This is the question right now. I think it's less about 'being a man' in some old school way and more about teaching them to be decent humans with principles. My boys see me owning my mistakes and admitting when I'm wrong. That's integrity to me.

VVictor M.New Dad2d ago

Real talk - it's about teaching them to think for themselves and have their own values instead of just following whatever they see online or what their friends are doing. Integrity means doing the right thing even when it's harder or less popular. That's timeless.

MMatt B.New Dad2d ago

The backbone part comes from consequences. Let them fail sometimes, don't rescue them every time, and they'll develop actual resilience. Real talk though, this is something I'm still figuring out too.

KKyle M.New Dad1d ago

Honestly at three months old I'm still just figuring out how to keep my son alive but this stuff is in the back of my head for sure. I guess start early with showing them that being strong isn't just physical, it's mental and emotional too. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

TTim P.New Dad1d ago

This is something I think about constantly. I try to show mine that being a man means taking responsibility, keeping your word, treating people with respect regardless of what anyone else is doing. Less about being tough and more about being someone people can count on. Hard to teach in 2024 when everything is so different but the core stuff hasn't changed.

VVincentRegular1d ago

You raise them to think for themselves instead of just following the crowd. Show them what being strong and responsible actually looks like by doing it yourself. Lead by example.

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NNathanNew Dad21h ago

Lead by example basically. Show them what integrity looks like in everyday decisions, how to treat people, how to handle failure. Don't lecture them about being a man, just be the man you want them to become. My dad never said much but I watched everything he did.