I am certainly no expert in this field. I don’t know about you, but I have three teenagers and need all the help I can get. Whether your teenager identifies as “anxious” or not, chances are they will have times where they absolutely are anxious. I think it’s unavoidable.

Our mental health expert is here to provide us with tips on how we can help our teenagers.

The teenage years can be some of the best and the most testing times of your life.

This is the time of gaining independence and self-discovery. It is the time to explore platonic relationships and consider what you want to be, and who you want to be with. Teenagers are often looking for a place at school, in their homes, and the world as a whole.

This is also the most confusing time for a teen to learn more about their bodies, life, and the world. Parents often find it hard to communicate with teens about anything, and when teens start hiding their anxiety, it could become even more difficult to tackle the situation. 

It is not possible to force teens to tell us what is wrong even when we can see them struggle.

You might hear them complain about physical ailments, or some refuse to go to school and even have emotional meltdowns due to little stress. There could be many reasons behind them not admitting what they are going through inside.

Even your anxiety and fears could become a barrier to communication.

This is why you must ensure that you are not too angry or emotional as your teen will not talk to you and this could alienate them. 

It is also possible that you are at a loss for words after you discuss or demand them to tell you what is wrong. You must remember that your little one is growing up and they are no longer a child. There will be times when you won’t know what to say to them, but you need to have a balance of support, comfort, and even action that can help communicate with your teenager. 

Anxious teens are different from anxious kids

Parents need to remember that an anxious teen is very different from an anxious child. As kids, children tend to worry about monsters, or the dark or dinosaurs. But as they grow up, they start worrying about themselves. They might be worried that they do not look cool enough, or they are not doing well in school, or they could be worried about what people think of them.

As they grow, they also start to worry about their bodies, and many teens struggle for years. If their anxiety is not addressed on time, it could get worse. Panic attacks and social anxiety are two things that usually start in the teenage years, and you will see kids who were never anxious suddenly become very self-conscious and anxious as teens. 

There are no specific symptoms you can identify since they vary from one to another. It can also become hard to notice anxiety since teenagers are good at hiding their feelings, and many like to avoid things. But pushing it under the carpet will not help. Anxiety doesn’t go away like that, and some also start a habit of alcohol or marijuana to feel less anxious, but they become highly dependent on it.

If you avoid it for too long, it can lead to depression too. Treating teen mental health issues is possible and as a parent, if you are worried about your anxious teenager, here are three different ways you can try talking to them so that they listen.

Here’s how you can help.

Empathize

Your child is no longer five, and as a teen, they want to be independent, validated, and understood. They are navigating different aspects of life, and it isn’t easy for them. Whenever your teen tells you something illogical or seems strange, do not lash out at them.

Take a deep breath and try putting yourself in their shoes. Show them that you get it. Show them that you heard what they said, and you are there to discuss more. Do not give advice straightaway but use encouraging words and ask them why they are feeling a certain way. Talking with your teen on this topic will need patience. You must never judge them or make them feel that their emotions do not matter. 

Relate

The best way to connect with your teen is to relate your experiences. They will feel more understood if you can talk about the similar experiences you went through. Talk about your insecurity, your challenges, and what you went through in high school. Make them understand that their feelings are normal, and every teenager has some form of insecurity.

Teens often look at us as people who will never understand their situation, but you must prove them wrong. You need to humanize yourself and keep the doors of communication open. If you don’t, they will shut off completely and look for different ways to cope with the situation.

Ask

If you know your teenager is anxious, you must make it a point to check in on them regularly. Look out for symptoms and always keep the conversations open. Whenever you hear something alarming, be calm. If you react emotionally, it could scare your teen, and they might stop sharing things with you. Whenever they talk to you, have an open conversation, and comfort them. Reassure them that you will figure it out together, and if you feel that their anxiety is unmanageable, you might want to seek professional help. 

Seek help

Normalize taking help for anxiety and ensure that there is no shame attached to it. Look for a therapist who can handle anxiety in teenagers and talk to your teen about how therapy works. Ensure that they are comfortable with the step you are taking, and do not force them until they are ready.

Assure them that it will work for their good and visiting a therapist does not mean that they are crazy. The right therapist will help them get to the root of the cause and could also improve the communication gap. 

Tackling anxiety in teens is easier said than done, but as a parent, you must give them complete support and always allow open communication. 

The post Tips for Talking to an Anxious Teenager appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

He is here to share with us what it takes to become a fire rescue officer. As I and many of my readers have older teenagers and young adults, I thought this is a relevant and interesting career path to learn about!

Building a Career as a Fire Rescue Officer

Being a firefighter is a noble profession, but it is not easy and neither is the process of becoming one. You will face immense competition, and the entire hiring process can be very challenging.

This is not something a lot of people succeed at, and over 70% of the applicants give up their dream of becoming a firefighter and opt for another profession which is easy to clear.

There are many reasons for it. One could be the lack of preparation. Many do not know what they are getting into when they start the process and do not prepare themselves appropriately. If you dream of becoming a firefighter, here are the things you must do to increase your chances of getting hired. 

1. Get an EMT certification

The majority of the departments require an EMT certification to apply, and almost 90% of them will need the certification once they hire. The fire department sees 70% or more of emergency events and it needs immediate medical-related responses which is why it makes sense to clear this prerequisite.

It also means that they will have to provide less training in the recruitment academy. Before you apply, you must pass the EMT training and gather experience as one. It will be very beneficial for you in the long term. If you are certain that you want to choose the path of a fire rescue officer, you must get an EMT certification and work as a paramedic. It will increase your opportunities in the industry. 

2. Volunteer

Whether it is a fire-related experience or a non-fire-related experience, volunteering will benefit you significantly. Some departments are looking for people who have the ability and desire to provide community services and doing volunteer service is a great way to build your resume and get references.

You will find several opportunities out there. All you need to do is find something that interests you. Burn camps can be a good place to volunteer and begin networking. Other opportunities include the American Red Cross or homeless shelters. 

3. Enroll in the fire technology class

While this is not a requirement for a job, it will look good on the resume and will help you prepare for a career in the fire industry. It shows that you are committed and dedicated to the career you have chosen. Take a semester-long class in building construction and fire behavior to make the most of this profession. You will get adequate training on the subject, and will help in case of injuries or line-of-duty deaths. 

4. Always have a clean background

No matter the profession you choose, having a clean background goes a long way. The best way to predict the future is your behavior. If you have a track record of problems like traffic tickets, accidents, violence, or arrests, it will become difficult for you to stand out in the crowd and beat the competition. While you cannot change your past, you can certainly make changes in the present which will benefit you for years to come. 

5. Be aware of the phases of the hiring process

If you are aware of the different phases of hiring, you will be able to approach it in the best manner. On the other hand, if you do not know how hiring works, how will you ever succeed? Different regions and different departments will have a unique selection process, but there will be some similarities you need to find. When you are familiar with the process as a whole and the steps that go into it, you will be able to prepare well. Do some research on the different departments in the area, where you will be tested, what are the different stages, and how you will be marked. 

6. Take firefighter tests 

The best way to understand the hiring process is by taking firefighter tests. With each test, you will be prepared for the next one. Do not worry even if you fail a part of the test, you should be concerned about the exposure you are getting, and you will get a better idea of what to expect in the future.

It is okay to fail at some point in the examination, and some of the best firefighters may have failed, but you still get to learn. Accept your mistakes and learn from them so that you do not repeat them. Once you begin taking tests, you will know more about your strengths and weaknesses. Keep yourself updated about the opportunities in the country since most departments will test infrequently. Some test every six months while some do every two years. Some also take one test in 10 years. This is the only way to get hired, and as long as you keep taking tests, you will continue to gain experience and be prepared for a life as a fire rescue officer. 

7. Visit the local fire stations 

You must take out time and head to the local fire stations. Try to visit the ones that are a part of the fire department you want to apply for. Speak to the firefighters there and learn more about the department, and the programs they may have. Talk to them about their journey, about their experiences, and the life they live now. If you see firefighter trophies there and are motivated to get one, speak to the right people and get as many insights from them as possible. Besides being a great resource, they are also the best people to start networking with. They have gone through the entire process and know what it takes. 

8. Prepare for a background investigation 

Many candidates are so well prepared for the different testing phases, but fail the background. This can be because they lied or had something in the report that got them disqualified. A background investigation is about 25 pages in length. It will ask for details about information from every employer and school you went to. Plus, they want details about the licenses, certificates, family members, credit history, accounts at different banks, and so much more. You will need to provide all the information once you make it through the process. Do not be the candidate that is out in the background check. 

Lastly, remember that it is not easy to build a career as a fire rescue officer. You will need to educate yourself about the opportunities. Be proactive in your quest for information and knowledge. Get hands-on experience to make the most of your education, and look at any opportunity to volunteer. Do not try and rush things because nothing will happen overnight. Hard work, patience, and perseverance will pay off. 

The post How to Build a Career as a Fire Rescue Officer appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

I was eager to hear from our experts on this issue since I know most of my readers are in a similar phase of life as I am. Our kids are getting older, and we are in new, uncharted territory. Guiding and leading and taking good care of our older kids is a whole new experience, and I feel like we have so much to learn! So without further ado, here are a few things to look for.

Red Flags In Your Teen’s Behavior You Have To Be Aware Of

The teenage years can be a challenge as it is a time of transition in a household. A teen wants more independence which also requires more responsibility. Teenagers have to act like an adult in many situations. The drawback is that teens are rarely treated like adults or given a fraction of the freedom adults have. The power struggle in a home can be quite contentious, as raging hormones can lead to outbursts.

The teenage years are a very confusing time for a variety of reasons. Growing up in the digital age is a very different experience from what a number of current parents have. Exposure to so many different inappropriate pieces of content is possible without proper supervision. Below will outline various red flags to watch out for in terms of your teen’s behavior.

Be Aware Of Common Signs Of Substance Abuse

Substance abuse can rear its ugly head during teenage years as a result of experimentation. Alcohol can be relatively easy to detect as it has a smell. Plus, bottles can be found. Asking for cash daily can be a sign of substance abuse as well, so monitor the spending that is going on. The friends that your teen hangs out with are going to play a direct role in their substance abuse. Certain friends will let parents know if they are concerned, while others also have substance use disorders.

Getting help for a teen that has a substance abuse problem needs to be done as early as possible. Adolescent substance abuse worsens much like other addictions unless a person gets help. You do not want an arrest to impact the opportunities your teen has going forward. 12-step groups are available online, as are virtual substance abuse counselors. You want to catch this early before the addiction gets too severe and nearly impossible to overcome.

Substance abuse does not stop at narcotics, as performance-enhancing drugs are a growing issue. The ability to make money in high school and college sports can be a huge temptation. Top athletes can be enticed by huge offers or those looking to have them gain an edge illegally. Keep this in mind if you notice sudden gains in athletic performance without increased work being done.

Grades Have Suddenly Dropped Out Of Nowhere

Grades that are dropping suddenly without explanation can be a sign something could be wrong. Bullying is common at schools, and with technology, bullies use social media to torment teens at home. Teens might not have this issue, but addressing grades dropping is important. You do not want to regret not addressing the grades when a teen is struggling mentally. Confronting a teen about their grades can allow them to open up about what is happening.

A bad relationship or even a huge disagreement with a teacher could be an issue. Teachers seem to be projecting opinions on students and do not react well when a student does not agree. Unfortunately, this happens at all schools at all levels, as educators are human and have opinions on various subjects.

Very Secretive About Certain Relationships

Abusive relationships do not only happen among romantic partners but also around friends. Teens struggle with wanting to be liked while setting boundaries with those in their lives. Emotional abuse can happen through gaslighting or minimizing issues that are brought up. You should want to meet your teen’s friends or at least know details about them. Falling into the wrong crowd is a recipe for contentious teenage years.

With this being said, all teens have a bit of a rebellious nature as is natural as their hormones change. Take solace in your teen standing up for themselves, as it can be tough at that age.

The difference between being secretive and wanting privacy is a parent’s job to figure out. Teens are inherently embarrassed by their parents, so bringing new friends around might be an event causing stress. Take time to get to know your teen’s friends in some capacity. You will, of course, have those favorite friends and those that you are not so fond of.

Teenage romantic relationships are a nightmare that you can offer advice on when asked. Offering this advice unsolicited can seem like you are trying to interfere in the relationship from your teen’s perspective. Limiting contact at some points can be done via extracurriculars which can look great on a college application. You do not want to forbid your teen to see someone, as the forbidden romance angle can actually encourage a relationship to fizzle out.

Loss Of Interests In Their Passions

Losing interest in previous passions can happen without any problems. Kids grow out of phases, but there are those that they love for a lifetime. Seeing a hobby fade into the past overnight can be a sign something related to the hobby is not going well. Quitting sports could be due to a lack of performance or time actually playing. Teens want to spend time with friends rather than practicing for hours without seeing any playing time for months of their year.

Keep Lines Of Communication Open

A teen might not want to talk about certain aspects of their lives. Forcing them to share these can lead to them lying and parents having no idea what is actually occurring in their teen’s life. Try to keep your initial reactions internal. Your teen might close lines of communication if they feel judged.

Understanding what is important to your teen can allow you to be excited for them when something happens in this area of their life. A teen could be passionate about sports or theater, and understanding what they want to accomplish is imperative. Investing time in learning about their passions can be a great way to bond. Red flags in a teen’s behavior can indicate there is an area of their life going wrong. Keep an eye on your teen without being too invasive. Teens with overbearing parents become experts at masking their feelings or keeping their behavior a complete secret.

For more articles on parenting preteens & teenagers:

Our Tour of Liberty University

Hey! It’s okay to tweak your school plan midyear.

The post Expert Guest Post: Red Flags in Your Teen’s Behavior to Be Aware of appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

I recently took my two teenage sons to tour Liberty University. This was so exciting and felt like such a big deal to me. It was my first college tour as the mom instead of as the nervous/excited high school kid.

I still felt nervous/excited to be on a college tour, but now it is for the futures of my sons rather than for myself. Those late high school and college years are such a hopeful time, full of seemingly endless possibilities. I had my turn, and now it is theirs.

My rising senior went on a church trip to tour Liberty University back in the fall, so he started out with a greater knowledge of this school than I had.

We learned a wealth of information about Liberty on this tour, and of course, I want to tell you all about it.

For starters, Liberty is in Lynchburg, Virginia, which was farther from home than I thought. I was expecting three hours for some reason, but I probably missed a turn or two. It took us more like four hours. It felt like a long drive, for sure.

Actually, I went to college three and a half to four hours from home, so this is pretty much the same as my college experience.

Liberty University campus tours are super simple to set up.

They give group tours every single day of the week at set times. Tours are typically at 9am and 2pm, Monday-Saturday. Sunday tours are at 2pm. Go here to see their schedule. It does change when there are football games or special events on campus.

Our boys are considering Liberty University, among other options.

I am especially intrigued by the Christian atmosphere and classes. Plus, I like that the school is so big that it has so many options for choosing a major. I feel like there is nothing they cannot pursue from here.

Plus, I think this school could be an excellent fit for my oldest son, so I was eager to check it out. He seems to like it too, but he has not decided if he wants to leave home for college yet.

Our tour group had two tour guides and about twenty prospective students with their parents.

The first half of the tour was all on foot. They took us to two different types of dorm rooms. We also got to go into a couple of different academic buildings and sit in a real classroom. Of course, it was summer, so the campus was very quiet and the classrooms were empty.

Our tour guides were current students at the university, and those kids had memorized book loads of information about their school. We learned an exhaustive amount about life at Liberty University. I left the tour exhausted but with all of my questions answered.

Here are just a few things we learned about student life at Liberty University:

-Professors do not get tenure. They gave reasons for why this was a good thing, but it made me feel a little bad for the professors. Job security is a valuable thing.

-There are three different styles of dorm rooms. One is the traditional type that I had back in my college years at the University of Alabama, where you have the good old fashioned community bathrooms. The other two styles are more luxurious.

-They have a cadaver lab “open to select undergraduate biomedical science students.” One of our tour guides was able to work and learn in the cadaver lab while she was still in her undergraduate years. That was impressive and shocking to me. That is a rare privilege for students at that stage.

-If you put in your application using the bar code they give you on your tour, within two weeks of your tour, you get to waive the $50 college application fee. So yes, our son already applied. I do like to save $50.

-It is an all walk campus, and there are buses that bring kids from the more distant dorm buildings to the center of campus.

-There are accountability rules governing student behavior, way more structure than at a public, secular university.

-Students must be back at the dorms each weeknight by midnight.

-Students must attend weekly convocation.

-Liberty has over 15,000 students on campus. This is almost as big as the University of Alabama was when I went there twenty years ago.

-All admittance to sports games and gym membership is covered in your tuition and fees, so you feel like you are going to major NCAA football and basketball games for free. (That’s the privilege of being a student. Parents still have to buy a ticket.)

-The Liberty University gym is incredible. I am not sure there is anything you cannot find in there. It is humongous. It even has its own food court.

-There is only one library. It is very large, but I found this odd for such a big school.

-The library has one of those robotic storage systems. Many of the books are still on the traditional library shelves, but many are stored in this robotic system. We got to see it in action, and my mind was a little bit blown. You can even check out miscellaneous items like a shop vac or a sewing machine.

-Sorry to keep going on about the library, but I was also impressed and feeling old to see standing/exercise desks in the library too. Things have changed so much in twenty years!

-The tour guides did speak frequently about the importance of Liberty being a Christ-centered college. Their mission is to train champions for Christ. That was really encouraging to me. I loved that.

-There are so many scholarship opportunities! With four kids to help through college, that is a big deal to me too.

-One of the scholarships is for Virginia domicile residents, and it is a good one. Of course, that depends on us actually staying in Virginia, which I cannot promise to do…

Altogether, I just loved this school.

If I were the student instead of the mom, I would be like, “Where do I sign up???” I know I would have loved going to school there.

But the question is, did the boys love it?

They definitely liked it. I think either of them could end up enrolling at Liberty. Neither of them complained about anything, but neither of them was like, “Yes! I have to go here!!” Also, neither of them have toured any other schools yet. That makes a big difference too.

So this process has just begun for us. One college down, and several to go. So far this one is my personal favorite, but I know it is not my decision. I promise I will behave and let them choose their school for themselves.

The post We Toured Liberty University & This is What We Learned. appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

***When you purchase through links on my website, I do collect advertising fees from the Amazon.***

Best of all, these books each have a different character-building lesson in them. They are beautifully illustrated too.

When you shop online, it is hard to know what exactly is in any book you have never read before. That can be problematic as a parent, with so many weird, competing messages being blasted out to our children.

So I’m here to tell you exactly what you will find in these new books for kids!

All opinions here are my own. I did read each book, and I even asked the authors to provide a giveaway copy for my readers! So I am extra excited about that. Giving fun stuff away is my favorite.

Now let’s see the new books!

I have read every page of each of these, from digital proof copies, supplied to me by the authors.

#1. Lincoln’s Big Adventure

There is so much to tell you about this one! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

In Lincoln’s Big Adventure, you follow a $5 bill on his way through life, changing hands many times. In fact, we begin the story with Lincoln (the $5 bill) hanging out with some other money in a piggy bank. So cute.

What is great about this book is that it teaches giving, kindness, saving up money, charity, and helping others in a way that is a story and isn’t preachy at all. In the end, Lincoln gets to feel like he made a big difference.

It’s a heart warming story with a good message, and your kids will definitely learn a lot from this book.

Plus, I have noticed kids often have a fascination with money and how it works. This book will teach them more about that too.

A neat bonus here is that the book includes both English and Spanish. The Spanish is right below the English on the page. You can practice your Spanish while reading this book.

I also like that it is written by a Christian author and school teacher, Jordan Saez. You can find more of her books here.

#2. Fred The Oversized Watermelon

This is a super sweet, deep, and emotional book. It has an awesome, rarely heard message in children’s literature these days.

Fred is larger than all of the other watermelons. No one will befriend him, not the watermelons nor the other animals and fruits. For a minute, things are looking real bleak for Fred.

Children’s books do not often go this sad either, but life does, and that’s just facts. But do NOT despair!! That is one of the key themes of the book, the not despairing.

I hesitate to tell you the ending because it is a total spoiler to the story, but I know as parents you need to know the message.

So here’s the spoiler. Scroll fast to the next book if you don’t want to know. Ha!

This completely took me by surprise because books so rarely mention this aspect of God, the not being alone because you have someone watching over you.

Towards the end, Fred meets Duck. Duck represents God in the story. He shows up with a message of pure HOPE and love.

Duck has been watching Fred all along. He brings up the little good things that happened amongst the sad times and how he sent those. He reassures and loves Fred when no one else will. It is excellent. It reminds me of a Max Lucado book.

This book is written by Kendal Clawson. In the front of the book, Kendal dedicates the book to her nieces or nephews and reminds them that there is always a God in heaven watching over them. That is a vital thing to teach our children.

#3. Swinging for Joy

This is a sweet, heart warming story about a little girl and her dog and how they help a little boy in distress.

The dog is named Joy, and he is sort of a magic dog. Well, maybe he is magic, and maybe he isn’t. What he does are all things dogs do. He finds things with his nose, he comforts his girl, London, and he is her best friend.

Our dog does that too. In fact, that is the reason I insisted on buying our boys a dog even though I have never been a dog person. (Yeah, I know, crazy cat person here.)

I LOVE how in this story London sees a boy crying at the playground and heads straight over to help him.

This is EXACTLY the sort of behavior I want my kids to display, caring about other people and acting on it. It is also what we want others to do for us in our time of need.

This is a story of faith. You can use the way she believes in her wishes to her dog to encourage your kids to look to God to help them with their problems.

Another thing I liked about this story is this line, “All you have to do is believe..”

Kids are often not taught to believe in anything. This book teaches believing in something bigger than yourself. Just make sure they know the thing to believe in is God. If he can create a world, he can help you find your keys.

There is also a cool reference to some historical heroes from Alabama in the book, that I especially enjoyed. But since I’ve already let out so many story spoilers, I will let you discover that one for yourself.

The author of this book, Aishah Hight, focuses on writing on themes of kindness, hope, and overcoming challenges. That is exactly what kids need.

Now let’s give away some new books!

Our winner will receive one copy of each of these three books, in the mail, directly from the author. If you’d like, the author will even sign your copy!

To register for the giveaway, click on the tabs in the Rafflecopter below. You can comment below, or you can visit my new Facebook page and click like.

You have two weeks to enter the giveaway. I will let you know via email if you win, so you must provide a good email address that you check regularly.

Rules: You must live in the United States and have a valid email address so I can notify you if you win.

Your kids will love this! Good luck!!

The post 3 New Children’s Books for Summer & A Giveaway! appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

It is so important to teach your son about home repairs. Yes, girls can definitely benefit from this too! At our house, we just happen to only have boys, so I tend to focus on raising boys.

This is a guest post that I think brings an awesome point: training up your sons on how to work with their hands. I want to make sure we use these tips at our house more too, and I hope you find this as helpful as I did.

Teaching your sons how to fix their broken stuff will help your finances and teach the boys valuable skills that will be useful later in life.

Who doesn’t respect a handy man (or woman) who is capable of doing his own home repairs?

One thing every parent would agree with is that raising kids can be challenging.  It can be tougher if your children are all boys.

There is a limitation to applying the parenting methods we learned from our parents years ago. Things have changed. 

The perception of manhood some years back includes working hard and respecting and protecting the family at any cost. Men who watch their fathers act this way grew up with the same characteristics.

Over time, as innovation presents new job opportunities, there is almost no need to showcase fitness. Companies now operate hybrid workplaces; hence no need to rush to work. With a smartphone, you can order virtually anything and have it delivered to your doorstep, including booking a repairman.

Nevertheless, your children need to understand certain Do It Yourself (DIY) repairs around the home.

Think they do not need it? Well, what happens if the technician fails to show up? Would you encourage them to call a technician to change a bulb that can be replaced within a few minutes?

Giving them an all-around education, both book knowledge and practical experiences, is essential.

For instance, take them along or involve them when purchasing Shower Door Hardware. Let them know how to choose the right hardware for a shower door.

How to inspire your boys to be kid-fixers

Repairs can be a boring task for someone with no interest; below are ways to make it fun:

Engage and educate

Kids are more intelligent and braver than you think. When supervised, they can safely handle most repair tools, including sharp ones.

Invite your son whenever you are fixing anything. Educate them on what you are fixing and why you perform certain actions.

Explain why you handle the fixing yourself instead of hiring a technician.

Explore

Take them along on your next car routine maintenance trip. You may also visit a repair shop or repair café in the neighborhood to show them the beauty of machines.

Let them see first-hand that the appliances they use at home are not powered by magic but made up of different parts designed to sync.

Supervise

Kids need supervision when working with tools. Teach them about safety features, correct their mistakes, and show them better ways to do it. Only allow them to repair plugged or powered appliances with supervision, except those that use batteries.

5 easy steps to teach your son about home repairs

You do not have to be handy yourself before teaching your kids how to do minor repairs around the house. There are lots of videos online to watch.

It would be fun to watch it along with your sons while you try out the recommended steps. However, here are five easy steps you can use to teach your kids about home repairs;

Introduce them to the tools

Familiarize them with the required tools for the repair you are willing to train them. If you are unfamiliar with the tools and their functions, watch videos to learn what they are used for, and then pass the knowledge on to your kids.

Teach them safety

Once they are familiar with the tools and their uses, the next thing to do is train them on safety. Do this irrespective of your boy’s age.

Also, teach with examples. For instance, narrate how you got injured while repairing something.

Make it fun instead of being similar to their typical school class.

Create a workshop

Purchase a child-size toolset and set up a workshop if you do not have one already in your garage.

Make them write out the names of the tools and have them added to the toolbox. This will help to memorize the names of the tools.

Buying them tools and creating a garage will give them a sense of ownership and could pique their interest in the lesson.

Allow them to practice with the tools

Assign them tasks that will require the use of one of the tools. Instead of loosening a screw yourself, ask them to do it.

Finding the right tool for the task will help them become more familiar with the tools.

Design a project

The project should be age-appropriate. You can start by loosening the screws of the drawer and instructing them to screw it back.

Painting is another project you can make them execute but ensure all necessary areas, such as floors and furniture, are well covered using drop cloths.

Home maintenance and repair skills to teach your children

Plumbing

You can teach kids how to fix a blocked toilet or sink. Direct them to fix a leaking tap and educate them on the importance of conserving water. Let them know about the water bill.

Electrical fittings

There could be a time you may not be around to change a faulty bulb or fix a socket that does not work. Teach them how to do this safely. Show them the circuit breaker box and how to operate it.

Let them know it is safer to switch off the power before performing any electrical repair.

Woodwork

Woodwork encourages creativity. Let them build anything of their choice or something they will find amusing. This may be a birdhouse or a doll house for their sister.

Likewise, you can show your kids how to fix home furniture with minor issues, like removing stains and discoloration.

Painting

Painting is a fun activity that your kids will surely like. Give them the brush and watch them unleash their creativity.

Auto mechanic

Train your son on basic car repairs, such as changing a flat tire and car oil.

Show them the normal car maintenance routine and how to interpret warning signs such as dashboard indicators.

Repairing fences and patching drywall

Your boys might not be strong enough at the moment to help you with repairing the fences. But watching you do it will undoubtedly help them later.

Cleaning

Reinforce in your kids the importance of cleaning. Establish a routine. You may mandate all used dishes are washed after dinner, before they go to bed. They should be able to vacuum and dust furniture.

At an appropriate age, make them take out the trash and wash the trash can when needed.

If you have a lawn, teach them how to operate the mower.

Other repair skills to teach your children include:

• Cleaning gutters
• Tightening or replacing a doorknob
• Vacuuming
• Changing air filter
• Hanging pictures
• Washing windows
• Watering plants
• Washing car
• Gardening

When you teach your sons home repairs, everyone benefits. Your kids become more confident in their own abilities, and your future daughter-in-law will thank you for sure.

The post 5 Important Things to Teach Your Son About Home Repairs appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.

These are all quotes about being a boy mom that anyone raising a boy, or two, or seven, will enjoy. I created fun pictures for some of them too so you can save them on Pinterest. I tend to save more funny quotes than I do helpful articles. Ha!

Or I save the helpful content on Pinterest, but I do not actually ever get around to doing them… So these are just for fun and encouragement.

#1. Mark Twain and his struggling mother….I guarantee you he was right, and she enjoyed it very much. I know I adore raising these children, no matter how hard it is.

#2. No one is as indestructible as a boy in a Batman costume.

Who knew Plato had jokes?

#3. This one sounds exactly like my life and is from a fellow mom blogger:

You’re going to miss this someday – I whisper to myself as I’m shot in the butt with a Nerf Gun while unclogging the toilet.”

~Lauren @https://simply-well-balanced.com

#4. Princess Diana:

#5. I actually said this one, and I stand by this statement:

But “somewhat?” No. I feel seriously accomplished!

#6. Embrace the messy. This one came from a blogger friend named Julie, who actually has five sons.

#7. I get to focus all of my fashion efforts on my OWN wardrobe

You can read more about the benefits of boy momhood here.

#8. Okay. THIS one from Kenny Rogers is one of my ALL time favorites, and it sums up most of my problems from the past seventeen years. Ha!

#9. I found my son skateboarding on the trampoline, and I feel like that sums up how dangerous raising boys actually is.

#10. Pure wisdom from Proverbs:

#11. This next one!!! I mean because it is like shoveling snow in a blizzard sometimes, especially when they are little.

#12. “Raising boys is a lot like raising lion cubs.”

I said that when I took all of them out in public together one time when they were all little.

This was the whole story:

The manager gave us a tour (of a rec center). Of course, the boys couldn’t keep their hands off each other, not in a mean way. It’s just that boys are very physical.  Raising boys is a lot like raising lion cubs.  At one point, all three hunched over JD, making googly faces at him. They were all smiling, and JD was whacking them in the face, just as happy as he could be. They loved it!

Don’t worry. I don’t condone toddlers smacking people in their faces…

#13. The sand, the kids running in opposite directions, the exhaustion, the safety concerns, I will never forget, one does not simply take four little boys to the beach by yourself.

#14. I left him alone for five minutes to run upstairs and grab something. When I came back downstairs, he was covered in chocolate and was laying upside down, asleep, half on the floor, feet in his chair.

That carpet never stood a chance.

#15. This one is so sweet, and it is the truest of true boy mom quotes. They will be heroes in our eyes!

“You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.” – Wally Schirra

#16. Amen to this:

“I used to give my friends who have kids advice all the time, and they would look at me like I had three heads. And then, when I had two, I literally apologized to all my friends.”

-Jennifer Lopez

#17. I found this quote on Pinterest from another present day writer. It is such a good reminder!!

“The only part of their childhood that lasts forever are the memories, so we better not be too busy to make them.” –Casey Huff in this post at Her View from Home

#18. Being a boy mom is all about wrestling, cookies, video games, and endless energy. The endless energy is theirs. You will gradually have less and less.

#19. You have boys. Congratulations! Your toilet will never be clean again.

#20. I will end on this one because it sums up my life from 2005-2013, when I was having one baby boy after another. My oldest son, around age seven, actually said to me, “Wait. If we go inside, we have to stand still and be quiet? Oh, I can’t go then. I am not made to stand still.”

“If it requires my child to sit still and be quiet, I can’t come.” -Unknown

This was also how we picked churches in the earlier years. No nursery for church service? Then we will have to attend a different church. Sanity matters, y’all.

I hope you enjoyed these boy mom quotes.

There is nothing that has brought more joy to my adulthood than being a boy mom to my sons. Now listen, I would also have LOVED to have daughters. I tried to do so, in fact. So please don’t troll me about that because I wanted a daughter very badly. Who knows? Maybe someday God will still give me one.

But I would not trade a single boy in this house for any daughters, puppies, or quiet time. Raising these boys is the greatest blessing we have ever had, and I know you feel the say way about your own, both daughters and sons.

“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 106:1

The post 20 Boy Mom Quotes That Will Make You Smile appeared first on Stories of Our Boys.