Fathers taking responsibility for the next generation of men
Most men imagine God to be like their dad. It is a natural association. In the best of situations, dads help us to envision how God might be. In them, we have a living, breathing example of authority that we see and interact with every day.
That is an intimidating responsibility for any father. None of us can be an exact reflection of God, but for our children’s sake, we should give our best effort. Because we have seen how damaging an abusive or absent father can be to a boy’s psyche, not to mention his view of God.
In the age of #metoo & Toxic Masculinity, we must evaluate what we are teaching our sons to be.
Toxic masculinity exists
It originated from the very people who are now speaking out against it. The entertainment industry has glamorized the objectification of women for 40+ years. America is now reaping what we have sown.
Every man you see on Netflix, in movies, and even hear in music is either hyper-masculine or emasculated. There are no balanced examples of masculinity, only extremes.
As Christian men, our aim is to train our sons with a Biblical understanding of manhood. The keyword here is biblical. Though all the things in this list are not “biblical” per se, they fall under some major categories of things that Christians hold as core values for men.
- Love God & love our neighbor.
- Love creation, do not fear it but subdue it.
- Protect those who are unable to defend themselves and help those in need.
- Live an abundant life, full of diverse experiences and challenges to conquer.
What follows is a fun list of suggestions, don’t take it too seriously.
Some of the listed activities I learned from my dad, others I am teaching my sons, and still others I am learning so that someday I can show my boys. I would love to hear your thoughts on my list and any additions you might make.
Every father should teach his son to:
1. Speak to his Creator
2. Change a tire
3. Change a car’s oil
4. Shave
5. Drive a manual transmission
6. Swing an ax
7. Catch a baseball
8. Throw a football
9. Drive a nail
10. Do his taxes
11. Treat a woman with honor and respect
12. Defend himself
13. Back a trailer
14. Parallel park
15. Shoot a gun
16. Sharpen a knife
17. Bait a hook
18. Start a fire
19. Conquer your fears
20. Tie a tie
21. Tie these 8 knots (overhand, half-hitch, square knot, sheet bend, figure 8, slipknot, noose, bowline)
22. Use ratchet straps
23. Mow the grass
24. Make an apology for something you have done
25. Hunt & fish
26. Grow your food
27. Ride a motorcycle
28. Crap in the woods
29. Play Rock, Paper, scissors
30. Thumb wrestle
31. Manage a bank account
32. Make a large purchase
33. Eat chicken wings without looking like a toddler
34. Make Long-term investments
35. Own your own mistakes
36. Cook
37. Skin a deer
38. Clean a fish
39. Throw a punch
40. Measure twice, cut once
41. Sleep outdoors
42. Say I love you
43. Smoke meat
44. Maintain situational awareness in public places
45. De-escalate a tense/dangerous situation
46. Respect his mother
47. Treat elders with honor
48. Butcher an animal
49. Take a girl on a proper date
50. Rebuild a small engine
51. Season cast iron cookware
52. Weld
53. Unclog a toilet
54. Clean a gun
55. Cook over an open fire
56. Identify poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettles
57. Sight a gun
58. Make a cup of coffee
59. Stand up for what you believe in
60. Grill a steak
61. Change a diaper
Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed if you don’t know how to do all of these things. Pick the ones you feel are most relevant and start there, then fill in the gaps in your own skill sets and pass it on to your boy. Good Luck!
Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed if you don’t know how to do all of these things. Pick the ones you feel are most relevant and start there, then fill in the gaps in your own skill sets and pass it on to your boy. Good Luck!
Don’t forget to share what you would add to the list?
(Simmer down, Ladies, these same things can be taught to your girls as well.)
