Description Table of Contents Introduction: Hoping to Bring Comfort and Wisdom to Moms of Sons Chapter 1: What Moms of Sons Talk About the Moment Three of Them Get Together - I feel like my son is taking years off my life - I feel self-conscious around moms of daughters - I want to create the perfect environment for my child - How does the bond between father and son form? - I wonder what's going on inside my child's head - I hope my son grows up to be a good man Chapter 2: Why Is My Son Like This? - I want to firmly tell him he can't do that - I feel like my child looks down on me - My child won't put down the smartphone - My son doesn't seem to listen to me - Even though he did something wrong, he cries so heartbreakingly when I scold him - I want to help develop his language skills - My child only draws in dull, colorless tones - I'm upset that my child is too introverted - I'm worried he has violent tendencies - My child only enjoys aggressive play - He's excessively obsessed with being first - He dislikes trying new activities and studying - My son avoids conversation - My son keeps asking if I love him - I'm upset that my child only ever comes home having been hit Chapter 3: How Can I Communicate With My Son? - How can I understand my son? - I want to teach him how to express himself - Parenting trends don't match my child - I need the perfect parenting recipe - I'm using praise to motivate him - He gets obsessed with one thing and can't let go - What sparks my son's competitive drive? - Is there a knack to giving praise? - I wish my son were better at English - I want to give my son confidence that he can do it - How do I build good reading habits? - Is it normal for kids to curse while playing with friends? - I want to help my son who's taken a liking to cursing - My child breaks promises and throws tantrums - My child is sometimes stubborn as a mule Chapter 4: A Rookie Mom of a Son, Growing Together With Him Every Day - I want to feel confident in my parenting approach - My husband treats raising our son like someone else's job - How should I respond when my child fails? - It feels like planning my child's life is entirely up to me - I want to help my son find his dreams - Is it a bad habit to have expectations for my child? - My son is dealing with a tic disorder - He's been diagnosed with ADHD—what do I do? - I feel intimidated and anxious about how informed the mom next door seems - Meeting a veteran teacher makes me blame myself - I'm afraid I might be raising my child the wrong way - No matter how hard I try, my child doesn't change - There's just too much parenting information out there Closing: To All the Moms of Sons Reading This Book Excerpt from the Book The process of understanding a son is truly different from the process of raising a boyfriend up to the position of husband. When a man and woman meet, all the clashing, talking, understanding, and effort that comes from their differences is possible because both sides make an effort. But the distance between a mother and son feels harder, because it seems like something only the mother has to resolve alone. A new mom of a son, welcoming a being so different from a daughter, will find herself curious about everything about him. She will wish there were a solution to raising a son. Now, let's begin the journey of understanding our sons—to reduce the stress that comes from not understanding them, and to protect our own life span in the process. _ From "I Feel Like My Son Is Taking Years Off My Life" Simply letting go of the pressure to draw well in front of the teacher can be enough to give a child new motivation to express themselves again. That's how much pressure kids these days feel from the gaze of others. If you sense that your son is hiding something, or if for various reasons the time has come to hear what's really on his mind, set aside the intimidating approach of sitting him down and saying, "Let's talk." Instead, try messing up a drawing together with your child. Here's how: first, buy a few sheets of large Kent paper and suggest to your son that you draw together. Some kids will draw without any trouble, but others may hesitate and refuse. For a child who won't draw, it's fine to just ask him to draw a single circle. Next, quietly ask your son, "Can Mom draw here too?" and draw a monster next to his drawing. If the monster opens its mouth, breathes fire, and attacks your son's drawing, how will he react? The reaction will differ depending on...