If you’re trying to figure out how the boys (and men) in your life operate, this week’s guest on the podcast is a must-listen. Jenilee Samuel, host of the popular podcast Java With Jen, offers heartfelt tips—including one question she and her husband have learned to ask that is nearly guaranteed to dial down conflict.
Who doesn’t like a guarantee?
Jenilee covers priceless ground, including:
- Specific questions that help your sons figure out what they’re thinking
- Inviting vulnerability with sons by being vulnerable yourself
- How to share your heart as a woman so that the guys in your life feel invited to honor you
I also appreciated Jenilee’s transparency in crossing into a topic that has been an area of research interest for me: the so-called “fragile” male ego. If you’re a boy mom, or want to understand your husband better, you’ll want to listen to our exchange. Jenilee had an epiphany one day, part of which I’ll share here:
“The thing that made me come around to actually humbling myself enough to be like, ‘I just need to learn how (men) work’ was the fact that I found myself telling my boys, you have to learn how a woman works if you’re going to be able to treat her right. If I’m expecting that from them, I should be willing to do the same thing. It’s not love for me to expect that but not be willing to offer that … But I had to work through a whole lot of my own resistance.”
Jenilee also shared a very direct answer to the question we sprung on her at the end: What is the hardest thing the Lord has asked you to as a woman who is surrounded by testosterone.” Her answer may sound like yours—and you’ll be so encouraged by how she navigated it.
Mostly, I think you’ll find practical hope for how to engage with the men and boys in your life in healthy, productive ways without diminishing who you are!
By the way, just like that, we’re at the end of season one of our I Wish You Could Hear This podcast! Thank you for listening, sharing with your friends, and supporting us! Your encouragement means the world.
You can learn more about how to support us practically (and financially) in the notes below. We’ve had a lot of fun with the podcast, and view it as an honor that you’ve brought us into your cars, gym workouts, and whatever other places you listen to podcasts. Season two is coming up. Look for details soon!
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