Category Archives: Parenting

Parenting Your Adult Children



The phrase “adult children” is an oxymoron: the words adult and children clearly describe very different things, and it’s impossible to be an adult and a child at the same time. Except it’s not. Most of us are adult children; Jen is 47 and a bona fide adult, but she’s also still the child of … Continue reading Parenting Your Adult Children


Just Don’t be an Asshole (with Kara Kinney Cartwright)



Kara Kinney Cartwright has a message for teenage boys & young men: just don’t be an asshole. The mom of two grown sons, Kara began writing Just Don’t Be an Asshole: A Surprisingly Necessary Guide to Being a Good Guy as her sons were preparing to head out into the world. The project was inspired, … Continue reading Just Don’t be an Asshole (with Kara Kinney Cartwright)


Raising Boys in an Era of Girl Power (Listener Q & A)



Raising boys brings up all kinds of questions. No matter how long you’ve been parenting, educating or working with boys, you’re bound to stumble into a situation that you don’t quite know how to handle — on a weekly basis. At least. In this listener Q & A, we tackle some evergreen questions. Jen also … Continue reading Raising Boys in an Era of Girl Power (Listener Q & A)


Coping With Coronavirus



How are you coping with coronavirus?  Our lives have undergone some pretty massive disruptions over the past few weeks, and it looks like more changes may be on the horizon. We’ll all learning new ways of connecting and communicating — and we’re all a bit scared and overwhelmed. That’s why we recorded & released this … Continue reading Coping With Coronavirus


Understanding Male Development: Baby Boys & Toddlers



Baby boys’ testosterone levels are nearly the same as teenage boys’. But for the first few weeks after conception, well, there’s no discernible difference between a male embryo and a female embryo. The testosterone surge that occurs in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy is responsible for the cascade of developmental changes that what … Continue reading Understanding Male Development: Baby Boys & Toddlers


ADHD with Ryan Wexelblatt the ADHD Dude



Approximately 3-10% of children have ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Many of them — the majority, in fact — are boys. Today’s guest, Ryan Wexelblatt (aka ADHD Dude) describes ADHD as “an executive function developmental delay.” What that means: In all humans, the brain’s prefrontal cortex (or “frontal lobe”) acts as the operating system for the brain. … Continue reading ADHD with Ryan Wexelblatt the ADHD Dude


Meagan Francis of The Mom Hour: Parenting in the Digital Age



Meagan Francis has been writing, blogging and podcasting about parenting for the better part of 20 years. You might not know her name, but odds are good you’ve seen a photo of her: That’s Meagan, in the hot pink dress. And that’s one of her (four) boys under her arm. (Meagan also has a daughter.) … Continue reading Meagan Francis of The Mom Hour: Parenting in the Digital Age


Best of 2019



340%. The ON BOYS audience grew by 340% this year. We now have listeners in more than 110 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Botswana and Bolivia — which means that our message of support for boys is resonating and empowering parents worldwide. This year, we hosted … Continue reading Best of 2019


Personal Hygiene for Tween & Teen Boys



We initially ran this episode in July 2018. But we’ve gained a lot of followers since then and tween & teen boys have not suddenly gotten better at personal hygiene in the interim. If you’re sick of fighting with your boy about hygiene, this episode is a must-listen. Have a boy who hates to shower? … Continue reading Personal Hygiene for Tween & Teen Boys


How to Teach Boys Gratitude



How do you teach boys gratitude? So many parents today are frustrated by their boys’ apparent lack of gratitude. All too often, our boys come off as ungrateful, entitled jerks — and it bugs the bejeezus out of us! We’re embarrassed, we’re annoyed and we secretly feel like failures, because surely good parents would raise … Continue reading How to Teach Boys Gratitude