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

by Durenda Wilson

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

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. 😂🤗

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[Angie Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone raising and homeschooling boys in this world, you need to read this book. It was such an encouragement with so much wisdom, I wish it had been out when my son was a toddler so I could have started implementing her suggestions earlier. I think every page was almost completely highlighted by the time I finished reading it.

[Elise Fair · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author shared several helpful images and anecdotes that gave me a healthier perspective on boys as God created them. There are many ways I don't relate to or fully understand my son (or husband for that matter!), and it's important to value and appreciate those differences as the God-given characteristics they are rather than trying to change or remold them to fit my own ideas of how people should be. She also shares practical advice, most of which, even if it is mostly supported by anecdotal evidence, I believe to be sound. Tomato staking (drawing the child closer when he's maybe being the most difficult), praying scripture, encouraging ownership of work, building up our husbands, and using fewer words to communicate are all helpful reminders she lays out for her readers about raising boys to men.

[Valerie Slaughter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and practical. Didn’t have the wow factor but did give me some good reminders.

“Boys have on average 2000% more testosterone than women and that leads to aggression which is meant to be released by things like sports and “good old-fashioned hard work”. The typical classroom goes against how God designed boys to be.

“Boys are meant to build, lead, protect, and conquer”. I need to be fostering these things in Jayce

[Kristi Plumier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this book was very helpful and a great reminder. I loved her stories and her thoughts on manhood. She does get a little repetitive toward the end, resaying what's already been said. Also, one entire chapter was almost copied and pasted completely from her 4 hr school day book. Great info and good resource recommendations it seems, I'll be checking out some of the ones she suggests.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Durenda on a podcast and decided this book might be helpful. It’s brief and practical. Not earth-shattering, but biblical and wise, and it helped me gain perspective in the midst of mothering five little boys. I am glad I read it.