Moms, encourage your sons with three essential phrases.

2. “Sure, you can try it.”  I hesitate to put this phrase so soon after the act-first-think-later-then-require-stitches example used above, but this truly is powerful in a young man’s life – especially when he hears it from “Cautious Mom” rather than “Adventure Dad.” Dads, having been young men themselves, know how vital it is that a boy try to do something on his own.  Yes, he might try and fail (see Emergency Room example above), but he might do OK.  Better yet, he might actually shine!  It is hard for us to let our boy take this risk – no matter how big and husky, these are our babies! – but it is essential for his confidence for the future that he be able to try and try again. Which leads to the last phrase.