Category Archives: Emotional Development

150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad



Meet Stay-at-Home Dad, Homeschooling Dad, and Mankind Project participant and advocate, Mark. Dad of Sam, age 8, husband of Corissa, living in Portland, Oregon, Mark retraces his journey as a boy who didn’t feel listened to by his mom and dad, struggling with his identity as a stay-at-home dad, and his striving to be an … Continue reading 150 Being a Stay-at-Home Dad


148: 14 Ways to Love Your Boys



Love really is what makes the world go around.  At least, it’s what makes the world a better place! On Valentine’s Day, our thoughts typically turn to romantic love (thanks to a hefty assist by Hallmark, restaurants and jewelry companies.) In this special Valentine’s Day episode, we’re focusing on another kind of love: The love … Continue reading 148: 14 Ways to Love Your Boys


134: Rites of Passage



  Traditional societies had many (often elaborate) rites of passage for boys and girls. On the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, boys become men after diving off rickety 40 foot platforms — toward the ground. (You may have seen or heard about this tradition on National Geographic.) In the Sioux culture, young boys were raised … Continue reading 134: Rites of Passage


133: Re-Run – The Good News About Bad Behavior



Enjoy this episode from our archives – it’s too good to miss! AND if you’re intrigued by what you hear, consider joining co-host Janet Allison for her upcoming online class: “5 Steps to Untangle Your Parenting.”  All the deets are here:  http://boysalive.com/untangle   If your kids always do what they’re told, consistently treat others with … Continue reading 133: Re-Run – The Good News About Bad Behavior


129 Grief with Tom Golden



One of our jobs, as parents and educators of boys, is to help them learn how to deal with tough emotions — including grief. As much as we want to, we can’t protect our boys from hurt. Loved ones die. Parents divorce Friends move. Boys fail to achieve important goals, and experience rejection from peers. … Continue reading 129 Grief with Tom Golden


125: Anxiety & Depression in Boys



  1 in 2 children will develop a mood or behavioral disorder or substance addiction by age 18.  We parents like to think that if we “do everything right,” our kids will be mentally and physically healthy with nary a care in the world. But that’s not the case. The truth is that mental health … Continue reading 125: Anxiety & Depression in Boys


119 Consent with Mike Domitrz



Kids want the skill set to empower them to make the right choices. — Mike Domitrz, founder of The Date Safe Project & father of 4 boys Talking to boys about consent is a must. It’s also incredibly challenging and a bit intimidating. Let’s face it: if adults were consistently good at consent, there wouldn’t … Continue reading 119 Consent with Mike Domitrz


118: Business Tips from a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur



Boys can learn a lot by starting and running a business. Jen’s youngest son, Sam, bought his older brother’s lawn business two years ago, when the older brother moved to Tennessee (where he has since started another lawn care service). At age 12, Sam has a roster of 18 clients. He cuts and trims lawns … Continue reading 118: Business Tips from a 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur


116: Why Risk Is Important for Boys



How comfortable are you with risk? Do you respond with fear or encouragement when your son wants to try something new? How about when you find him climbing atop your tree house? Or doing flips off a public staircase? Adults’ desire to keep boys safe often interferes with boys’ ability to take chances and try … Continue reading 116: Why Risk Is Important for Boys


115: The Boy Crisis with Warren Farrell



Your son is not the only one struggling. According to Dr. Warren Farrell — and a slew of research — boys in 63 of the largest developed nations are faring worse than girls. They’re doing worse academically. They’re falling behind in the workplace. And their physical and mental health is failing as well. In his … Continue reading 115: The Boy Crisis with Warren Farrell