That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character

Being a full-time mom today is anything but politically correct. Our culture has reduced mothering to a side dish, a mere part of the meal. But, the truth is that motherhood IS a full-time vocation which requires more devotion than any career or pursuit. It is a job from which a woman never retires, a title which a woman will keep into eternity. And, today, who needs mothers most? Our young men. Boys in our culture are under attack like never before, and the men of the previous generation are failing as husbands, fathers and leaders. If you're a mom and you're passionate about raising your son to be a man of character, a man of integrity, a man of virtue, a leader then you must read "That's My Son". There are a plethora of wonderful Christian books about raising boys, from Robert Lewis' "Raising A Modern Day Knight" to Steve Farrar's "King Me". But, none of them are written specifically for the woman of the home, the mother. Mr. Johnson has filled that void and done it comprehensively. There are only three parenting books that I keep in my library, to reference again and again. "The Mission of Motherhood" and "The Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson and "That's My Son" by Rick Johnson.

You know the old saying "there doesnt come a handbook with being a parent?" Well "That's My Son" is the closest thing out there to a parenting guide. Mom's we are raising men not boys, this book will have you saying " Oh my gosh, thats why he does/did that??". Rick Johnson gives all the "secrets" of manhood that we would of spent a lifetime trying to figure out had it not been for this book. A must read... give this book as a gift to all the moms of sons out there, whether they have little boys, teenagers or even grown men!

Rick Johnson has hit a home run with That's My Son! He helps us get inside the heart, head and soul of a boy. His sensitive portrayal of the essence as a boy is contrasted with a mother's natural parenting style. We don't know what we don't know. Rick gives us simple and gentle guidlines for skillfully raising a boy to have character, strength and honor. I look forward to reading more from Rick!

I'll say at the outset that I'm not a woman. I'm a man. And according to its title, this book is not addressed to me. But I am a father of three boys (and a girl). I've also served fifteen years as a pastor and counselor, and I've become well acquainted with the frustration and grief of moms (especially single moms) trying to understand the seemingly incomprehensible: juvenile maledom. I've known many males--juvenile and adult--who have been raised by moms who couldn't (or didn't try to) figure them out. And I've known the deeply wounded wives, girlfriends, and children of these boys-become-men-who-remain-boys. Thank God, moms now have Rick Johnson's book, That's My Son. Speaking from his own experience as a son, a parent of a son, and the coach and seminar teacher of hundreds (maybe by now thousands) of moms--Johnson offers wise, insight-filled, down-to-earth guidance for mothers of boys. He explains how and why boys are different from girls psychologically and spiritually. He shows what boys need in order to become men of strong, healthy character, and how even single moms can find ways to provide for these needs. And he gives practical steps moms can take to raise a boy well--how to communicate in a boy's "language," how to discipline a boy effectively, and several other areas of importance. Johnson is a great story-teller, and he uses stories from his own experience and that of others, sometimes with humor, always with compassion. I highly recommend this book to any mother of a male.