Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
My guest today is Melanie Young, a mom of six sons and the coauthor of the book Raising Real Men. Melanie, welcome to the program!

Melanie Young:
Hi Mike, I’m glad to be here!

Mike:
Melanie, the boy’s need for competition, adventure, and even danger can be very difficult for a mom to understand. How have you come to appreciate and encourage this drive in your own six boys?

Melanie:
Mike, it sure is hard for a mom like me to see what’s so attractive to our boys in danger and destruction. We need to remember that God has a purpose for those traits. It takes a lot of courage and risk-taking to be an underground missionary, or a godly political leader. As mothers, we’ve got to be careful not to undermine these manly virtues because we want to keep our sons safe.

We do need to teach our boys to take reasonable risks, though. It’s not right to risk your life for mere thrill. Therefore, you wear helmets, you put on your seatbelt, “You don’t do it, son, unless you’re likely to do it safely.” On the other hand, to risk your life for the cause of Christ, when eternal things are on the line, is noble!

Our boys should have righteously adventurous heroes: soldiers risking death to protect those at home, bold Christians spreading the gospel in closed countries, and courageous emergency workers rescuing the helpless in disasters. Even if they never face those things, that’s the kind of men we want them to be.

Mike:
Melanie, that’s a great perspective! I think moms of boys listening today will really benefit from your insights. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.