Comment

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons

Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men
ksoles
May 30, 2014ksoles rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 Stars... In her new book, "Strong Mothers, Strong Sons," Meg Meeker offers solid, practical advice for women on how to nurture their sons so that their boys grow into good men. She asserts that modern women experience extreme pressure to be "everything to everyone:" the ideal worker, housekeeper, wife and mother. On top of this pressure, gender difference adds to the challenge of raising sons as does society's constantly shifting masculine paradigm. Through research and interviews from her own practice, Meeker empowers women to embrace imperfection; doing the best one can will ensure positive results. She certainly conveys an important message though some of her conclusions border on the blindingly obvious: sons need to feel loved from a very young age so they can gradually and confidently move away from their mothers and interact with male peers and elders. A boy's home must epitomize a safe haven to return to regardless of age, a place where his thoughts and feelings garner respect and where he can express his hopes and dreams without fear of judgment. Controversially, Meeker recommends introducing boys to religion, prayer and the unconditional love that comes from devout faith. She also skillfully navigates the world of sex, from body awareness to the power of social media to his interactions with girls and women. Ultimately, nothing wields more influence than a mother's imprint on her son; Meeker's advice gives women the tools to make this imprint with confidence.