Your Boy: Raising a Godly Son in an Ungodly World

by Vicki Courtney

When popular speaker Vicki Courtney released the best-selling Your Girl in 2004, and Beth Moore declared it “A must read for every daughter’s mother,” it wasn’t long before a fast-growing audience was naturally requesting Your Boy. After all, parents are seeking help to grow godly sons as well. And as the mother of two boys herself, Vicki rises to the occasion with this inspiring, tell-it-like-it-is new favorite.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Non Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Vicki Courtney is the best-selling author of numerous books for women, tweens, and teen girls including, Motherhood Is Not Your Highest Calling, Rest Assured, Move On, 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter, 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son, and Between Us. She is the recipient of a Mom's Choice award and two ECPA Christian Book Awards. She and her husband, Keith reside in the Texas hill country and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents to ten grandchildren.

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen quite a few Christian books aimed at teenage girls or for parents trying to raise Christian girls. In fact, the author has written two such titles: Your Girl (aimed at parents) and Teen Virtue (aimed at the girls themselves). However, I haven't seen many such books that focus on boys. It's almost like the world either thinks that religion and spirituality are the domain of the woman or that there are no Christian boys (like they all suddenly become born again after college or something).

Your Boy finally fills that much needed niche. This book takes on a rational tone fully realizing the immense peer and culture pressure that teenage boys are under. Nonetheless, the author makes it very clear that such expectations are not a free pass to participate in activities or act in a manner that does not fit with the boy's Christian values and morals. Moreover, the author suggests that personal responsibility and independence are the keys to a teenage boy growing into a responsible, respectable, Godly man.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, this book was really not helpful to me at all. There was a lot of Biblical quoting but little application of it to the real world. And while the suggestions in this book are very good for the parent of an early elementary-age boy to help guide you the parent in good things to practice while raising your boy, I would not bother with it once my child is in 5th grade or older. This is good ground-work to be laid down in the early years but it is much too rigid and inflexible for the variety of personalities that appear by the end of elementary.
There may be an updated edition available but the one that I just read is from 2006 and felt very out of date regarding internet protocols for teens. Additionally, the author's children did not exactly turn out as predicted in this book. Possibly the advice books that she has written since her youngest graduated from high school may be a bit more helpful in regards to real-world application.

[Lenore Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicki Courtney has two books out, Your Girl and Your Boy. They are guides in how we can raise our children in Godly ways in an un-Godly world. It is hard to fight the constant competition of the media, friends, family and even those horrid advertisements that bombard our homes. Do this, want that, follow us. I love that the viewpoints in each book is geared toward mothers and the real focus for each sex of child you have. Raising girls and boys is not the same. There are different battles they face. And mothers need all the support they can get. I am taking these two books with me this next weekend to gift to my daughter.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book - very practical information about what boys are facing in our culture today and how to prepare them to respond in a Godly way - great list at the end of characteristics of a Godly man and what to look for in a virtuous woman - made me think about the example I am setting for my son with regards to the virtuous woman I pray he marries some day and also about how to instill respect for women and a strong work ethic in my son - excellent Biblical references as well as statistics to back up her information - from Today's Christian Woman

[Gina Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was good. I'm glad I read it now, but it will probably be more applicable for Ethan as a preteen. I have to say that most of her statistics about what our boys will encounter in the world made me want to never send him to public school (and I haven't previously been that intent on homeschooling!). Partly because we homeschool, a lot of the issues most boys encounter haven't happened to us, or they've been easier to navigate because I'm more involved.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. My son is going on 11 & I am sure I will be referring to it often. I learned alot about myself, as well as where I am lacking in areas of preparing my son. It helped me to see exactly where inpowering our daughters can possibly hurt their future husband & vice versus for my son. A true eye opener for a modern mom. Learning what kind of mom I am was very funny! ( Little League mom, Lifeguard mom,Roller-Coaster Mom, Personal Assistant Mom or Holy Spirit Mom)

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during a long trans Pacific flight, thinking it would be a "light read". Needless to say, there were many sections I had to stop and think about how I could apply what I am reading to my life. If only all mothers read this book -- whether you are a Christian or not, the underlying premise is universal, and I am sure you will glean something that you can apply to your life.

[jlmoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely a must for moms of boys. Vicki gives hands on advice on how to raise our sons in todays world, with all the temptations and poor morals that flood our society. You find out that if you aren't taking active steps to avoid these things, then you (and he) are falling victim to them.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is more appropriate for moms with kids in elementary school or older, I am so thankful I read it while my son is in the toddler years. It will help me lay a good foundation while he's still young. Lots of good information contained in this book!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sections on technology are definitely dated, but the core messages of this book are still timely and relevant. The author provides a lot of good food for thought as well as many concrete ways parents can nurture their sons.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a chapter of this each night. We have to raise two of these--need as much help as I can get!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than Your Girl, but may be because I did not have a brother and learning about raising boys is new to me.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, but not outstanding. It has a lot of the same material as "Your Girl". The last two chapters were excellent though! Worth reading.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Very eye opening! A must read for mother's of young boys. Pick this one up right before your son turns 9.

[Craig Vermeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Totally geared toward moms, but had a lot of good points and info that applied to dads as well.

[Lori Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such good insight into the culture that we live in...also great advice about how to raise a godly son. Excellent read.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about what it means to parent boys!

[Carina Hill]

This book is a great guide in raising godly young men! It has excellent tips and very tangible ways to guide our boys! Loved it!

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the rare parenting books that I managed to read at the right time. Lots of good examples of practical ways to live and parent in a Christian way, warnings for unavoidable bumps in the road, and wording that can show empathy and caring without weakness.

I kept reading bits out to my husband, and am now planning to buy a copy (rather than relying on the library one).

[Bethany Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it twice now. A great reminder on how to raise boys.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice for moms on raising boys!

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had some good information but was VERY conservative, much more than I am :)