It's Complicated...

“Helping boys grow and mature into men means providing an environment that acknowledges and supports them in their maleness, not one that demands they be different. Understanding how their bodies are made to work is a form of loving them well. We will address some of these issues more specifically in the next few chapters, but in order to lay some groundwork for understanding, here are some common mistakes many caregivers make with boys: confining them, verbally or emotionally flooding them, sparring with them, rescuing them, squelching them, shaming them, guilt-tripping them, and sabotaging them.”

Notes From: Stephen James & David S. Thomas. “Wild Things.” iBooks.