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Are we teaching our young boys to be Real Men?

I believe that the timidity of the current American Man started at childhood. As I look around it is becoming worse everyday. Little boys are no longer encouraged to defend themselves against aggressive behavior. They are encouraged to walk away from a fight even though they may feel deep down that the matter is worth fighting for. When our boys show aggressive or curious behavior that are prescribed drugs, such as Ritalin, so they will no longer exhibit this behavior. Adults seem to want to control our boys instead of taking the time to provide direction. Fathers need to spend more time with their boys. Have we really become to self obsessed and busy with our own lives that we have forgotten to teach our boys the important lessons of life?

Today, more then ever, fathers need to teach our boys the difference between “good guys” and “bad guys”. Young boys don’t play games like “cowboys and Indians” or “cops and robbers”. We now allow our children to sit and play video games hours upon hours. Boys literally think that war, drugs and violence is a game. Where is the reality check? Where is the competition amongst young boys? Our boys need to experience the physical competition of sports. Playgrounds are empty. There are no pick up basketball games. There is no more fast pitch or boys playing pee wee football. I have personally witnessed boys on my son’s baseball and basketball teams cry after a loss. Cry! There’s no fucking crying in sports. It was embarrassing as a father, as well as, an American Man. I have witnessed mothers screaming at coaches for disciplining their boy or working them to hard at a practice or a game. What the hell is going on? Do we want our young boys to be pussies?

Lets start encouraging our boys to put the video games down and get back to the playgrounds for some sporting competition. Lets not diagnose our young boys with behavioral problems when they are too aggressive or lacking discipline. Take the time to do something about it. Don’t take your boy to a psychiatrist to get a prescription drug to solve your problem.  Solve the problem yourself! Spend some time with your son. Be more accessible to him. Be more stern with him.  Whether its discipline or just steering him in the right direction. Spend the time with your young boy and he will listen to you and learn to respect you.

Both Fathers and mothers need to stop coddling our boys. Boys need to learn how to fail and then subsequently succeed. We should encourage our boys to be boys. Teach them to respect there mothers and fathers. We are responsible, as Americans, to install in our boys a sense of pride. Fathers, your boy should be afraid to do the wrong thing. When I was ten years old my father pulled me aside and told me “if I ever see you do drugs I promise you I will kill you. I would rather see you dead then destroy your life and the lives of those around you.” He said it with so much conviction and sincerity that I truly believed him. I promise you, I was fearful to even be around anyone trying any type of drug. Here is a message for you Fathers. It’s alright for your son to fear you a little bit. The fear my save your little boys life one day.

I really don’t mean to sound like one of those men who yearn for the good old days. I realize that times have changed. However, we still need to teach our boys how to become men. That will never change. Lets install the pride back into our boys. If we do it right our young boys will become better men and better leaders. Its time for an adjustment in the way our boys are raised by both mothers and fathers. We need to take a step back and ask ourselves the question. Are we teaching our young boys to be Real American Man.