Boys Should Be Boys
7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons
By Meg Meeker, MD
Review By Troy L Parrish

  Boys Should be Boys fits well with the beliefs and philosophy of Boys Behavior. Written from a coservative point view, this book affirms much of what has been held true of boys for a long time. That they are unique, and need to be treated as such. Dr. Meeker cites much of the research that has demonstrated that indeed boys do behave differently from girls, that they are motivated differently from girls and respond to life differently than girls. As such, boy need to be approached in a way that both takes these differences into account and seeks to affirm these differences, not stamp them out or pretend that they are simply social constructs that can be trained out of them.

Written in a converstational style with ample stories from her practice as a prediatrician, Dr. Meeker writes a book that is easy to read and moves along nicely. This does not mean that the book is light on suggestions or helpful tips, there is some meat to this book. The chapter on dealing with peer pressure is worth the read of the book itself (the peer pressure is the peer pressure we as parents face not the pressure our boys face). In today's hectic world that pushes us to have everything and provide everything, evaluating what is motivating our parenting of our boys is a question that sorely needs to be asked.

Chapter 10 entitled "The God Factor" is also a very good chapter that outlines and demonstrates the incredible value that boys get from having a solid faith. Dr. Meeker provides both anecdotal and research based evidence that a solid faith makes for boys who are happier, less prone to depression, less involved in drugs, alcohol or other illegal activity and are far more likely to maintain sexual purity. This is a nice contrast to a growing cultural push to rid children of the weight of having to deal with the desires of parents to introduce them to the faith of the family. If you have any doubt that requiring participation in the family faith based activities, this book should put that to rest.

The final chapter gives 10 tips to help to summarize what has been discussed in the body of the book. As a consequence, the reader has a nice compact set of guidelines to hold onto after completing reading the book. Of all the tips Dr. Meeker presents, the most important one is the hard fact that the greatest influence on the lives of children, including teens are parents. As a parent you are the most important and most influential person in the life of your son. Do not believe any source that suggests otherwise or that parents are not sufficient in providing guidance to their children. Do not allow a culture to tell you that you need the direct involvement of experts in the lives of your children in order for all to work out well.

So, what are the Seven secrets to raising healthy boys? According to Dr. Meeker, they are:

1. Know how to encourage your son. This is not spoiling him nor is it being too harsh.

2. Understand what your boy needs. It is not a program or a gaget, it is you.

3. Recognize that boys were made for the outdoors.

4. Remember that boys need rules.

5. Acknowledge that virtue is not just for girls.

6. Learn how to teach your son about the big questions in life.

7. Remember, always, that the most important person in your son's life is you.