1. Use Your Words
In school, kids are taught at an early age to use their words to express their feelings. One of the challenges is men don’t often practice what we preach and lash out physically when frustrated. Since our boys are going to emulate them, then men should start modelling less physical methods of confrontation.
2. Apologize for Your Actions
Men must help their sons realize that their actions have consequences. If you are going to lash out, commit a crime, or beat up your wife, there will be consequences which you can’t control. In order to make amends, you must apologize for your actions. Men can no longer claim to be a victim for there own behavior.
3. Acknowledge You Have a Choice
After doing the wrong thing, show him how to do it right. By showing him he has an alternative, will empower him to hopefully make the right choice when he is confronted again.
Teaching him the ‘Smart thing to do’ when things get intense; walking away, count to 10, gather your thoughts then come back to address the issue.
4. Hug Him and Tell Him You Love Him
Establish yourself in his life, you are his hero. The best gift a hero can give you is his assurance, by hugging him and always telling him that you love him puts a mark in his mind and heart. In doing that he may never want to do things that his hero does not approve of.
For boys, mom is always the first love and dad is always his hero. So men, be the hero that you yourself would admire.