Boyz II Men: Have You Had "The Talk"?

Steve Zollos's new book, Time for the Talk: Leading Your Son into True Manhood (Shepherd's Press), looks like a very helpful resource.

From the preface to dads of young boys:

In daily conversation, "The Talk" is usually polite shorthand for "telling children where babies come from." Here, however, I give the phrase a big promotion and a much more significant job description. Let me explain.

This book is written to you, the father of a young son. It is built on the conviction that raising your son is really no big deal . . . unless you plan on him becoming humble, courageous, morally pure, faithful, selfless, and self-controlled: in other words, a godly young man. To get there your son will need a lot of help, and you, as his father, are certainly the best man for the job.

Through "The Talk," as I define it in this book, you will help your son learn to trust in the Lord, and not his own understanding. You will open a channel of communication based on truth and love that will endure for life. You will talk directly to him—and with him—about difficult subjects you two have probably never ventured to discuss before. If done in the encouraging way I suggest, you will become a trusted confidant—his lifelong friend.

If this doesn't sound easy, you're right. In fact, if you haven't tried it, it's probably harder than you think. That's why I wrote this book. Within these pages I have made every attempt to integrate the truth of Scripture into the process and the topics associated with "The Talk." Having "The Talk" with your son will require prayer, patience, and your own willingness to change.

Think about that for a moment. Unless you are a very rare breed of father, this book is going to suggest that you need to alter certain ways of thinking and living. To serve your son the way you need to, to help him become the man God wants him to be, you are going to have to change. That's what you're signing up for here. Your son is getting older every day and, as I suggest throughout this book, it's best if you can begin The Talk when he is about ten or eleven, or as soon thereafter as possible. Are you ready to help him? Are you ready to change?

You can download a PDF of the table of contents, the preface for dads, the preface for moms, and a couple of chapters.