Father to Son: Life Lessons on Raising a Boy

A young boy doesn’t come with instructions. He just comes with boundless energy, spirit, and love, all waiting to be shaped. And one of the powerful forces in the shaping is the wish to grow up to be “just like Dad,” who was himself a young boy once. With apologies to mothers and daughters, there’s really nothing like the primal bond between a son and his father. A little book of wisdom for fathers on raising boys, “Father to Son” is a guide to the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood. Divided into sections covering the different stages of a boy’s life, the book features one succinct lesson per page–some lighthearted, some serious, all supported by the book’s strong moral backbone. Here is the importance of passing along skills– “Show him how to eat an Oreo.” “Show him how to put a baseball in a new glove and wrap a belt around it.” Of setting a good example–“Be home for dinner.” “Do push-ups together.” Of staying involved– “Race him. You’ll never forget the day he beats you.” “Be sure to meet his girlfriends.” Being flexible–“If his favorite thing about organized sports is the uniform, let him wear it to school.” Offering guideposts, material and intangible– “Hang a punching bag in the garage.” “Put a computer in his room. Never a TV.” “Never tell him boys don’t cry-ask him why he’s crying.” Nurturing responsibility– “Make him understand that even a small lie makes him a liar.” “Teach him the joy of finishing a job.” And instilling wonder–“Teach him the joys of staring at the moon.” “Encourage him to go barefoot.”