Despite boys’ macho stereotypes, they can be sensitive and need to know that their feelings are important. They also need to learn to be honest and keep their promises.
One of the best ways to instill these values is by being a good example. Your sons learn best when they see you displaying the traits that you want them to possess.
Treat everyone with respect.
If you want your son to be a gentleman, it’s important that he treat everyone with respect. This includes those he disagrees with, as well as those who may not have the same opinions or beliefs as him. Respect is a universally accepted value, so teaching your son to respect others from an early age can help him become a kind and respectful man.
Children are naturally curious and open to other people, so starting them off on this path at a young age is an easy way to teach them to be friendly. It’s also a great time to work on perspective taking, which is the ability to consider how another person feels and what they might be thinking. Practice with everyday examples, like asking your child what a rabbit in a story might be feeling to get them in the habit of seeing things from other points of view.
While boys are often thought of as being aloof and cocky, gentlemen are actually quite compassionate. They’re willing to put their needs aside for the sake of those around them, and they’re often more interested in being fair than being right. This type of behavior can make your son a good friend, coworker and neighbor.
While it’s natural for most mothers to worry that their son will grow up to be a boorish cad who chews with his mouth open and burps at the dinner table, it’s important for parents to remember that boys are just as sensitive as girls. Holding your son to a traditional macho stereotype will only hinder his emotional development and may lead him to mistreat women.
It’s important to help your son express his feelings and learn to control his temper, so that he can develop into a compassionate and caring gentleman. Make sure that you understand the reason why sons forget their mothers and learn from it.
Be a good listener.
A gentleman listens to others and shows they care about what the other person has to say. In fact, listening is the first step toward building trust. A good listener is attentive and asks follow-up questions when necessary.
Your son can learn how to be a good listener by watching you. He can see you opening doors for people, helping someone to their seat, or holding your daughter’s hand as you walk down the street together. It also helps if you encourage him to smile at people and make eye contact when talking to them.
Being a good listener can be difficult, particularly when the other person is making a point you disagree with or want to correct them. However, gentlemen know that the main goal of a conversation is to learn something new about the other person and what they think. You can practice this skill by asking your son questions that require him to take the other person’s perspective and consider their feelings.
For example, “What do you think the rabbit in that book is feeling?” This will help him develop empathy and understanding of other people’s viewpoints.
Learning how to be a good listener is an important life skill that all boys should have. It will ensure that they grow into dependable, respectful men who treat everyone with respect and kindness. While it can be a challenge to raise a little gentleman, it is definitely worth the effort. You may be surprised at how much of a difference it makes when you see him interact with his friends, coworkers, and even strangers! For more advice on raising your boy to be a gentleman, check out our article on tips for becoming a gentleman.
Be friendly.
As they develop into adults, boys sometimes exhibit behaviors that make their parents cringe. Maybe they bite their nanny, push a friend or throw a fit in public. While some moms are tempted to let their kids slide by with these occurrences, we encourage you to teach them the skills that will help them grow into respectful men and gentlemen.
Friendships are vital for children and teach them how to enjoy someone else’s company, accept differences in opinions and compromise. Encouraging friendly behavior in your son will set him up for future relationships with women who he should treat with the same respect and kindness he would want to be treated with.
The best way to teach your child to be friendly is through modeling this behavior yourself. Even if you are a stoic macho type, you can still be a model for your son by practicing friendly behaviors regularly with him, such as opening doors for him and his sister, or simply smiling and greeting people in the halls at school.
You can also teach your son to be friendly by allowing him to talk freely with his peers and being receptive to his emotions. It is important that children feel comfortable talking about their feelings, including anger and frustration. This will help them cope with life’s challenges, and make them more compassionate and relatable to women.
Lastly, you can demonstrate how to be a gentleman by teaching your son to compliment his sisters and other female friends, rather than insulting them or criticizing their looks. It is also a good idea to introduce him to male role models who respect and love women. Fathers, grandfathers, teachers, coaches and other male mentors should be great examples of how a gentleman treats women.
Be responsible.
A gentleman knows how to take care of his own affairs, but also understands that he must look beyond himself. He has a duty to help others, including women, when possible. This demonstrates good manners and a sense of community.
It is important to teach boys about the value of responsibility, so they develop a healthy and mature outlook on life. This enables them to deal with adversity on both an individual and societal level. It can even protect them against peer pressure in the future and lead to a more secure and independent life as adults.
Encourage your son to be responsible by teaching him to do chores such as cooking, washing laundry and cleaning. This will give him a strong sense of self-worth and teach him how to be helpful to his family, which will translate into a positive attitude toward women as well.
Teach your son to be affectionate with his siblings and parents. This will allow him to be loving and emotionally available to women later in life. It is also important to encourage your son to discuss his feelings openly with you. You can demonstrate this by being receptive to his emotions and offering him supportive words.
Ultimately, you are your son’s best role model when it comes to being a gentleman. If you can be a chivalrous and respectful person, your son will follow in your footsteps.
Respect women.
Men who respect women can do a lot to help us fight for gender equality and a society that is fair and equitable to all. Unfortunately, many boys are raised in a culture that encourages them to degrade and disrespect other women, especially women who don’t fit into the ‘boys club’. This may include female sex workers, women in the entertainment industry or even women in leadership roles. This type of behavior is not respectful of women at all and it is important to teach boys to respect all women, not just the ones they love and admire.
One of the most common ways men disrespect women is by mansplaining, which is when a man talks over a woman or acts like they know more than she does. When boys hear their parents or other adults talking about women in this way, they will often adopt these sexist habits subconsciously. This is why it’s so important to make sure your son sees you treating women with respect, as well as others, at all times.
You can also teach your son to respect women by always asking for consent before touching them. It’s not difficult to do and it will help them stay safe from predators who are willing to take advantage of women without their knowledge or consent.
Finally, you can help your son learn to respect women by ensuring they aren’t exposed to pornography or other things that promote the degradation and violence against them. By discussing these issues with your son and making sure they are educated about the truth of what pornography can do to people, you’ll be raising a gentleman who will stand up for what is right in all situations.