Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: My Honest Review

Do you want your sons to be emotionally strong and resilient? Do you want to equip them with tools that will serve them well their entire lives? If so, then check out my review of David Thomas’ book, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys.

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As a mom of two boys and a girl, I can tell you already there are unique challenges to each gender. But while I’m fairly familiar with girls (having been one myself and grown up with a sister), boys have been a bit of a foreign territory.

I’ve learned a lot in the last eight years I’ve been a boy mom, thanks to some great books [link] and valuable wisdom from others. But an issue with one of my boys had me struggling to make headway.

Then, a blogger I follow repeatedly mentioned the book Raising Emotionally Strong Boys by David Thomas, and I was intrigued. When she had the author on her podcast, I eagerly gave it a listen. And I was hooked. Everything he said was so powerful and so insightful, it only whetted my appetite for more.

I immediately bought the book, and bumped it to the top of my to-read pile. (Which is saying a lot, because that’s a tall pile!)

What did I think after I read it? Read my review to find out!

Summary of Raising Emotionally Strong Boys

Here is the official summary of Raising Emotionally Strong Boys:

“About those meltdowns, blowups, and one-word answers . . .

Some say that’s just how boys are–prone to outbursts or sullenness. But what’s behind these and other issues? Drawing from twenty-five years of counseling boys and working with parents, David Thomas sheds light on common emotional struggles, including anger, anxiety, and depression, and shares practical ways you can help your son be

Resourceful –equipped to work through his emotions in constructive ways
Aware –so that he better understands himself, including his strengths and weaknesses
Resilient –having the capacity to cope and feel competent
Empathetic –able to understand the feelings and experiences of others

Helpful also for grandparents, teachers, and anyone else who has a boy in their life, this book shows how a strong emotional foundation leads to a Christ-like sense of masculinity that will serve him well his whole life.”

My Thoughts

I’ve been researching and teaching my kids about emotional regulation and healthy processing for a while now, so some of the strategies in the book were not new to me. But the boy-specific insights and reasons behind them gave me greater understanding. And I walked away better equipped with effective tools to help my boys grow into emotionally strong men.

I’m so thankful I read this book when I did. I definitely think this is a “better late than never,” but “the earlier the better” kind of read.

If you are raising a male, married to a male, or ARE a male, drop what you’re doing right now and run to get this book. It’s that good. I devoured it from the very first page to the final word. I don’t re-read books very often (I have too many others I want to read!), but this one I will.

GET RAISING EMOTIONALLY STRONG BOYS HERE

Psst… Don’t have time to read right now? Listen to it on audiobook! Try Audible Premium Plus for FREE and get up to two FREE audiobooks!

Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions

And guess what? There’s a workbook, too!

Geared for boys ages 6-12 (which both of my boys fall into), it breaks down concepts and strategies from the book and teaches them in a way young boys can understand. With a combination of stories, practical applications, and writing/drawing prompts, it’s masterfully designed to help boys learn for themselves how to build healthy emotions.

And my boys are really enjoying it! Andrew, especially, was super excited to start, and every day after school he asks to do his “Strong and Smart.”

I asked them if it has been helpful to them, and they both enthusiastically said it has. I can already see how it’s equipping them with tools and strategies to work through big emotions.

I’m so impressed with how well-done this workbook is, and I could not be more thrilled by the results so far. Definitely one of the best investments I’ve made recently!

GET THE STRONG & SMART WORKBOOK HERE

Raising Boys & Girls Podcast

If you want even more David Thomas goodness (plus some Sissy Goff wisdom for girls), you’ll definitely want to check out the Raising Boys and Girls Podcast. It is FULL of valuable insights, practical strategies, and hope-filled encouragement for raising kids in the modern age. I’ve been binge-listening, and I can’t get enough!

Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!