Dear Dr. Bill,
I have a 12-year-old son who is an honor student and seems to be doing very well in most areas of life. But he’s growing up fast and I’m concerned that I’m not teaching him everything he needs to know about being a man. Any suggestions you have about being a better father would really help me!
--Shane
Dear Shane,
It’s clear that you love your son very much and want the best for him in life. As he enters the teen years, he’s going to need every bit of guidance and direction you can give him.
Today’s culture can be very toxic to teens—as they face temptations like drug and alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, internet pornography and a relativistic, “me-centered” attitude among their peers.
It will be critical for you to keep the lines of communication open with your son during the next few years. He’ll also need plenty of support and guidance to help him deal with some of the things our culture will throw at him.
Most importantly, your son will need sound spiritual guidance. If you haven’t taken your faith seriously up to this point, it’s time to commit yourself to reading God’s word on a regular basis and praying for and with your son.
Let me recommend an excellent book that will give you practical, biblical advice that you can use to help your son thrive during the teen years. It’s entitled “God’s Design for the Highly Healthy Teen” and is written by my friend Dr. Walt Larimore, a family physician.
You can learn more about Walt’s book at his website, which is DrWalt.com.