A Mom’s Guide To Raising Boys

Before I had my first child, I wanted a boy. I wanted a boy because I grew up in a household with two sisters and no brothers. So I always wondered what it would have been like to have brothers. That all made sense when I had my two boys 17 months apart (Yikes!). Now I know what it’s like raising boys.

Yikes is not even the word to describe these two lovable boys of mine. My nonexistent gym membership involves staying active with them and my gym shoes never made it to the actual gym. How is that for a boy’s mom? But be assured ” boys will be boys”, but they are my boys and I get to teach them how to be men!

My boys mean so much to me. They are such wonderful blessings from the Lord. They are however quite different from the girls I might add (really, really different). I guess I did not understand the word boys up until now.

So here are a few of my tips that I have discovered along the way about raising boys. I do hope that it will encourage you on your motherhood journey with them.

Do you also have any tips that you could share about raising boys? Please feel free to add to my list, or ask your questions or concerns below. I would be happy to help you!

“I have two boys both 17 months apart (Yeah me!).”

Have a variety of activities

Boys are a ball of fun. There is no doubt about that. They are energetic and constantly looking for something to pull, break, hammer, damage, etc. You name it, they will find it.

Keeping them engaged long enough to prevent much damage to your home is key with multiple boys. Yes, I hear girls are quite dainty and will keep quiet for longer, but I have boys!

Activities have to involve a bit of mixture. That includes outdoors mixed with indoor (preferably a playroom or area) activities.

Check out my blog post on:

• 12 Movement Activities For Kids To Stay Fit
• 10 Fun Screen-free Activities For A 3 To 5-year-old

Routine is key

When managing boys, routine is so much better, otherwise expect the words, “I am so bored Mom!” Routine helps kids to stay on track and organized.

Without a familiar routine, there is a lot of restlessness and mishaps throughout the day. When boys are aware of what to expect next in a schedule, it gets so much easier to transition them to various other activities.

Read my blog post on:

• Time Management 101 For Moms

Getting dressed means room disaster

Boys for the most part are not into “tutus” like the girls. They really have little to say about what you put on them compared to the girls. They do have their moments when they want the Paw Patrol shirt instead of the Spiderman shirt, but it is far and few in between compared to girls.

However, keep in mind they DO NOT STAY STILL to put their clothes on. It will be a fight and a throw-down or pin-down to get them dressed and ready to go.

Before you start the process, my advice is to have what you need right there and I mean it. If you miss just a moment expect the lotion to be all over your son, or the drawer to be empty of all clothes.

Also please do one kid at a time. If one is getting dressed, the other can be doing something like having breakfast and rotating. Two together means gang up on mom and take her down.

mealtime is fun time

While my lovely sister raves about a tea party with her girls, I laugh in my head after saying to her “Aww how nice!” Tea party really, did you see the mess that I have to clean from the walls before my dear husband gets home!

Mealtime is not a dainty tea party let’s all drink tea and eat tea biscuits. It’s a throwing competition of who can hit mommy’s head first with the meatballs. Can anyone relate?

My kids love to eat, they are not picky for the most part, but when they are finished, it will be somewhere else. The key in this situation is to play reverse psychology. Rewards of a small dessert or treat are given for putting empty plates in the sink.

Now instead of throwing the dishes at the wall, they are looking forward to dunking the dishes in the sink. It works like a charm.

There is always competition

While I see my nieces sit and talk all day long about dolls, my boys are not the same. There is always competition in my household.

My youngest son loves to do everything his eldest brother is doing all the time. He thinks he is cool for the most part. If he sneezes, he fakes sneezing too!

The problem is, that sometimes my eldest son wants his space to do other activities that are not as interesting to my younger son.

Even though they are close in age (17 months apart), being told to play together becomes a toggle and a beat down. Sharing is not the plan of the day.

Trying to incorporate independent play when situations like this arise. It helps to ease the tension. Giving them activities they prefer doing alone is ok.

When you want to have them play together again, then you or Dad can be present to facilitate that activity and to also incorporate sharing as well. Otherwise, there will be a tug of war-to get them to share a toy.

The word no means yes

The word NO is translated in boy’s world to mean YES. NO goes in the ear canal and YES comes out. I have no idea why. “Can I have a snack?”. “No, you already had one”. “Ok Mom thank you!” and before you even realize it, Dad already fell for the trick. Yes, they parent-hop all the time. If Dad says no then mom is the target and vice versa.

Before you even realize these kids already twisted both sides to get what they want. My advice is that NO means NO for both Dad and Mom. Dad has to check with Mom first and vice versa.

Start the discipline even as early as this age group. They might be kids, but they are super smart!

invest in earplugs

I have no idea if my boys can hear me screaming at them to stop screaming at each other when they talk. It’s like they are immune to it. I hear them scream talking to each other all the time.

It’s very similar to my husbands and their friends around game time anyway. It is just a part of their male ego that you cannot try to tame. So get some good earplugs and keep them close by for noise cancellation.

I love my boys, and would not trade them for anything. Even though they can be a handful at times it’s expected! However, they are absolutely a joy and a blessing to be around every day. They keep a “so worth it” smile on my face with their goofy ways. BOYS WILL ALWAYS BE BOYS!

For more related content on raising boys, visit my blog post on:

• What Being A Mom Of Boys Taught Me
• How To Get Boys To Love Reading
• How To Get Boys To Love Math
• Encouraging Sports In Kids

Did you find the strategies about raising boys listed in this article helpful? What were some of your favorite tips? How have they worked for you? Leave a comment below, I’d love to know what you think.

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