Raising your son to respect girls may sound like a challenge, but it’s not as hard as you might think. Your son will learn how to interact with girls within the walls of his own home. The best thing you can do to teach your son how to respect girls is by setting an example for him. If you are a father, you should show your son how much you care for your significant other. Emphasize the principles of love, respect, and responsibility. Show your son that proper affection towards women is acceptable and welcomed within your home.
You should always avoid arguments with your spouse or significant other in front of your children. It is known that no one is born with a violent personality; this is something they learn through intimidation. Aggressive words and actions lack love and respect in your home. You should not be surprised if your son is rude towards his siblings or classmates if you and your spouse have arguments in your home. If shouting, hitting, or violence occurs in your home, your son is being taught that this is acceptable behavior. Parents need to have calm discussions with each other behind closed doors and should always avoid aggressive behavior.
Give proper affection and attention to your son. Your son needs to hear that he is loved by both his mother and his father. Your son will look to you as his first views of affection. A son who is surrounded by parents who genuinely love each other and show their affection for each other will learn this behavior and carry it into adulthood. As a father, you should teach your son that it is ok to be tender and loving.
Fear, sadness, and anger are all common emotions that boys experience and it is healthy for them to express what they are feeling. Teach your son that crying is ok for boys as well as girls and that being a “man” doesn’t mean you have to bottle your emotions and that you need to be aggressive when you are experiencing some of these emotions. By accepting your son’s emotions and allowing him to express them, you will help him become a caring man who will respect the feelings of both women and men.
Pay attention to the way your son interacts with his siblings and classmates. You do not want to support his actions if he is teasing or picking on others. Instead, talk to him about how he feels when others treat him that way and ask him why he feels he should treat others that way.
You should have a positive attitude and self image of yourself. The way you treat yourself will radiate to your son. Teach him that strength comes with tenderness, love and compassion. Teach him to “do unto others as he wants done unto himself”. No one wants to be teased or picked on. Do not allow this type of behavior to be present in your home. By doing this, your son will learn that it is not ok to tease or torment others for his own satisfaction.
Think before you act. As a parent it is common to say a thoughtless remark when we are upset at a particular situation. Before you lash out in anger towards your son, you need to take a deep breath and fully evaluate the situation. Aggressive shouting or behavior toward your son will begin to take their toll and force him to have a low self esteem and self confidence. Insults or unkind remarks will hurt your son and cause him to bottle his hurt feelings. He may lash out against girls at school if he is being hurt at home.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to