Teaching my son what it means to be a man

May 11 min read

As fathers we have a real responsibility to show our sons what integrity looks like. It's not enough to tell them to do the right thing when nobody is watching - they need to see it. Last week my boy caught me about to take extra change from the cashier at the hardware store. I could have just left, nobody would have known. Instead I went back and told her. My son watched the whole thing. That's the kind of example that sticks with them more than any lecture ever will. We're raising the next generation of men and that's serious business.

6 comments198 views

Comments(6)

DDerek P.RegularMay 1

This is important stuff. Integrity is one of those things kids learn by watching, not listening. They see how you treat people when it's hard, how you admit mistakes, how you keep your word to them.

AAlexRegularMay 1

What does integrity look like in your daily parenting? I'm asking because I want to make sure I'm actually modeling it and not just talking about it to my kids.

JJoeRegularMay 1

Absolutely agree. With four kids I realized pretty quick that my sons don't listen to what I say half as much as they watch what I do. The gentleman's code starts at home.

CChris R.RegularMay 1

This hits hard. My daughter is watching everything I do, and I think about that a lot. It's easy to talk about integrity but living it consistently when you're tired and frustrated, that's the real test.

JJoeRegularMay 1

A hundred percent on this. My dad was the same and I promised myself I'd be different with my boys. Showing up emotionally is just as important as providing. It's the harder work but it matters more.

SSteveRegularMay 3

Real talk though, what does that look like day to day for you? Like specific things you're trying to model? I want to be intentional about this with my kids but sometimes I'm just trying to survive bedtime.