During our plane trip back to & fro Malaysia, I managed to finish reading the book 'Raising boys' by Psychologist Steve Biddulph. This book has sold over a million copies alone so I thought he must have some good advice to give. The book gives parents an understanding of what makes boys tick from birth to late teens to manhood. It maps out stage by stage of the role of a mother & father according to which each stage of a boy's development. I found it rather insightful.
For example, from 0-5y.o, mothers play a vital role in teaching their boys confidence by showing them as much love as possible. Then from 5y.o-16y.o, their fathers must rise up and teach them to become a man as this is the stage where they will imitate their dad & learn from their life experiences. Then from 16y.o - adulthood, it is very important to have male figures as role models that is not their dad (eg. Youth group leader, scout leader, coach, mentors etc). The book also explains how boys brains differ from that of girls etc.
While we were just about to land in Melbourne, a middle aged woman across the seat from Mr M & I asked me if I was reading 'Raising Boys' because her daughter in law had been reading it. She told me about how true the book was at identifyin gthe 3 stages of boyhood. She told me how her husband had left her when her son was only 7y.o. Now that his son is 30+y.o, she sees that he walks, acts & talks just like his father - a man that has never been in most of his son's life & that his son can hardly remember.
It's amazing isn't it when you look at babies & toddlers, you think they won't remember a single thing. But the truth is, they are imitating their parents every single day & one day, your imprint will be lived through out through them... amazing!
