Raising Boys to Men: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on Raising and Homeschooling Boys

by Durenda Wilson

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Non Fiction, Family, Education

115 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Durenda Wilson has been very happily married to Darryl for 26 years and homeschooling for 20 years. They have eight awesome kids, 5 boys and 3 girls. Two are married, one is in college and the rest are still at home. Durenda is a Nana to four cuties! She writes for her own blog, Simple Nourishing Home and Hip Homeschool Moms. She also writes and podcasts over at The Busy Mom. Her passion is simplifying, being authentic and inspiring moms to homeschool and mother in freedom and joy.

Reviews

[the_storied_life (Joyce Santiago) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would truly give it 5 stars, as I thought it was extremely helpful and interesting, but didn’t want anyone to think I agree with absolutely everything in the book, hence the 4 stars. 😂🤗

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short and easy read that is full of encouragement. As a mom to 1 boy and 4 girls and never growing up around boys, I often look at my son and wonder why he is so weird 🤪 and why everything I do is wrong. This book reassured me in several areas I was doing right and other areas I could do better or new ideas to try. Although it does mention homeschooling throughout the book, this can still be helpful to mothers who aren’t homeschooling, as well.

[Anna Timmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book by an author and speaker we hear so much of in our homeschool circles.

I found I had two issues:
First, not all boys are rambunctious, patience-testing, aggressive boys and the book assumes they all want and need a release for their aggressiveness. Some of our sons are soft and loving and like to be inside helping mom and cuddling babies!

Second, there was a constant push to assume all boys will become husbands and automatically leaders and that we can ask our husbands for creative ways to discipline our boys. However, many men were raised with a belt and the only ideas they have are to take their sons out behind the wood shed.

However, if you're trying to figure out how to handle a very energetic and naturally aggressive boy, this book does have good ideas.

[Breann Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to run out and buy a copy for every mom that I know that has boys! This was fantastic, helpful, so needed in today’s society, and I can’t say enough good things about it.

[Hannah Schnetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As advertised - short, sweet, and sensible! I actually would have loved even more detail, but considering how it was intended, I think it is spot on.

I personally think two camps of people will benefit from this book:

1. The Rookie: The mama who did not grow up around boys or have much experience with them, who needs a crash course in the amazing chaotic world of little men. If this is you, this is a wonderful place to start. Not overwhelming, but encouraging, helpful, and extremely practical. I think this also applies to a girl mom who might have a boy on the way and is worried about how to adapt to the change. This is a lovely, positive overview of what you might be able to expect.
2. The Enthusiast: The mama who has more experience with boys, possibly grew up around them or had many guy friends, but who wants to learn how to parent them specifically as children. Maybe you love being a boy mom, maybe you love to roll with the chaos but don't quite understand how their brains work or how to encourage them in the best path - this is for you.

I would put myself in the second category having two boys that I love and fully enjoy in all their energetic rambunctious curiosity, but who also feels like a novice in parenting them and helping them to be their best. This book gave me so many wonderful reminders and words to the things I might have known but was not taking into account. It feels like a well-worded and summary driven conversation between an experienced boy mom to the apprentice, but in such a gentle, kind, and yet truth-telling manner.

My one caveat is I don't think there was enough emphasis placed on how much boys need affection and love from us. There was a huge focus on respect, and how boys want respect and how to train them to be tough warriors, etc. I'm not disputing that some of that is necessary. However, I think there could have been an entire chapter devoted to how much boys needs their mother's love, and how to show it to them in a different way than girls. We are their main female influence, we are their safe harbor until they find a wife, and as such I think there should have been more time devoted to doing this well. Men want more than simply "respect" from their wives; they also want her deep love and support, her affection, and the ability to be vulnerable around her. This book touched on that a tiny bit, but I think a full chapter would have been helpful for mothers who are trying to nurture their boys without smothering them, and finding that balance.

All in all, I loved it - I will be rereading this at various times and now I am on the hunt for a similar book on raising girls that I can share with and discuss with my husband!

[Clarissa Unruh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick listen packed with practical advice. God isn’t asking us to raise nice guys. He’s asking us to raise warriors. Will listen to chapter 6 again for sure.

[Erin Seeders · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wisdom in this short book! I’m heavily convicted, encouraged, and motivated to be obedient to the Lord in this area of life that can be frustrating and hard at times.

[Chelsea Eggleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! I heard this book recommendation on a podcast, and I’m so thankful I did! A great book to learn and understand our sons in a biblical way, while also encouraging us to honor and bring our husbands into our understanding of them, too. Highly recommend!!

[Malayna Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to any moms who have sons! Completely changed my perspective on how to parent my boys, raising them to be strong leaders that are different from what the world tells them to be, and how to embrace their God-given qualities!

[Avery Caher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly is mercifully short book and straight to the point but full of helpful information and encouragement

[Candy Asmus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising three boys & homeschooling them is certainly not for the faint at heart! I’ve read several books about homeschooling & motherhood, but nothing specifically about raising boys to men. I highlighted & dogeared so many pages in this book! It was excellent!! I learned so much about my boys & I felt encouraged too. I will be reading this book annually, if not again in 6 months. I’ll be telling all of my homeschool moms who are raising boys that this book is a must read!!

[Brittany Allee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a practical & tangible guide to raising boys to men—filled with encouragement, lots of scripture references and a whole host of topics covered that boys will encounter as they grow and mature into young adults. I feel encouraged to nurture my boys God-given traits to lead, protect, provide, conquer and build and not let society and cultural norms diminish those qualities. My first read by Durenda Wilson, and certainly not my last!

[Dani Munoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved many of her points and earmarked several of the lists to refer back to. Many solid reminders, especially the emphasis on building your son’s work ethic and how we as mothers cannot expect our boys to be wired liked we are. While I appreciated the brevity of the book so I could start applying ideas now, there were a few comments she made I wish had more detail or more examples.

[Amanda Vonderheid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was very helpful and encouraging as a mother of 2 little boys. I am grateful for the insight from a mom who’s raised 5 boys to men. I will be revisiting this book probably once a year or so, to help keep some of the concepts fresh in my mind.

[Lizze Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and solid. This was a good read, great tips, funny anecdotes and principle based. I especially appreciated her tip for physical repercussions, prayer/scripture list and her constant encouragement to work with your husband in decisions.

I would differ slightly on her education perspective.

Recommend reading it.

[Julia Burford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, wise advice for loving and raising your boys. This was an encouraging, inspiring, and yet challenging read for me, as I came across things that made me realize that I need to be more intentional in training.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad my sister bought me a copy of this book! I will refer back to it often.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful, practical, short.

[Mary Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved. Wish it were a touch more practical/action oriented. But very encouraging and theologically sound!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every boy mama!

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short & practical! Loved it. Jam packed with solid, biblical advice and such a great resource for years to come!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and easy read, highly recommend. I plan to take a lot from this book and will def read again as my boys get older. I look forward to having my husband read it as well and get his take on it

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish all my boy mom friends would read this. It’s very encouraging and full of great practical advice.

[Kevin Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, but covers many topics with helpful approaches to consider.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Durenda Wilson, so this book isn’t a higher rating for me simply because I’ve heard all the info in it by listening to her podcast.

[Megan Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every mom of boys (homeschooling or not) should read this book. Such helpful, practical advice and wisdom about how to wisely navigate raising your boys into men.

[Hannah C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how short and direct and practical but humble this book is. Makes me want to be a more loving, understanding, prayerful and flexible boy mom. Definitely foresee myself re-reading every year or two.

[Christina Burt]

It truly is mercifully short, but full of really good reminders and tips on raising boys. I needed that!

[Katherine Kippers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any mom of boys should read this book. It's more on motherhood than homeschooling, and very encouraging!