There is an old school of thought that I’ve known of for a few years. When I first heard it I was utterly flabbergasted. It is essentially this: “I taught my daughter that she was not pretty and therefore I prevented her from sleeping around as a teenager.”

Well, I’m sorry but this philosophy is completely backwards. The way to keep a girl / young woman virtuous is not by beating her down but by building her up. A woman with confidence doesn’t seek solace in the arms of men to overcome her poor self-image. Instead, she seeks a man that values the worth she knows she has.

This applies for boys as well. A boy who is made to believe that he is less than a man will typically either act like a dog as an adult or have no self-confidence; for such things will prevent him from becoming a man. The following phrases accomplish belittling your son:  “act your age,” “be a man” and “man up.” All of these phrases belittle and this is how: the underlying messages are “you’re immature,” “you’re less than a man,” and again, “you’re less than a man.” Are these really the messages that our sons need to hear if we are to expect them to become men? Hell no.

As a parent it is your responsibility to build your child up, ALWAYS. It is your responsibility to nurture their strengths and to love them and encourage them in areas that are their weaknesses. They can become good people, they can become great adults. Until then they are animals and animals need love, affection, support and patience. And when they receive those things they give it back love in return. That is the simple recipe for a happy home: treat your animals well.