“You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. If you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.”-Walter Schirra Sr.
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Imagine it is 15 years from now, what do you see your son doing with his life? To answer that question, you need to think about what your son is learning about life now.
1) Be of Service to Others
What will be your son’s legacy? His life defines who he is and the choices he makes will impact his the lives of others. Teach him to understand the power of his words and actions. Remind him that he was uniquely created to make a contribution to the world. Surround him with people who are supportive, positive and encouraging. Staying small and thinking small will not get him where he needs to be in life. Starting today, show him how to have a new perspective on life. He has to believe in his abilities and discover what he has to offer the world.
2) Love Unconditionally
When was the last time you loved without hesitation or caution? Withholding love is a means of control that only leads to distrust and resentment. Loving unconditionally means loving without judgment. You can lead by example with the following:
- Allow yourself to love and be loved
- Do not expect your needs and wants to be fulfilled by someone else.
- Allow those you love to express themselves without fear of rejection.
- Do not punish yourself or loved ones for past mistakes.
- Be responsible in how you show love.
3) Do the Impossible
Think it can’t happen; then it won’t.
- Learn from failures and take responsibility for your life.
- Listening to your inner critic can sabotage your dreams.
- Dream big and be excited about your future.
4) Be Grateful for Opportunities
Everyday your son is given many opportunities. Some may go unnoticed. Help him to recognize the simple little blessings that come his way daily. Give him a strong foundation on which to build his faith. His life will be more rewarding when he is aware of how much he has to be grateful.
5) Take Healthy Risks
Don’t allow fear of failure to dictate your son’s life. Fear inhibits success. Everything in life involves a risk. Your son will limit himself if he doesn’t step out of what is safe, comfortable and familiar. It is important that he is curious about life. Help him to develop strategies to deal with rejection and disappointment..
By encouraging your son to develop healthy habits, you are giving him the tools he needs to have positive experiences in life.
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Originally appeared at Raising Great Men.com and is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
Marie,
Great advice that I believe applies to all children. In order to follow your wisdom a parent must live and be a living example of these values and beliefs or else parents will struggle to nurture them in their children. I find it interesting that we celebrate Mother’s and Father’s day and there is little discourse, discussion, public agreement on what constitutes “a good Mom” and what constitutes “a good Dad?”