That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character [Paperback]

Rick Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2005

Why are boys so different? Why would a trip to the garbage dump be such a highlight in a boy's life? What do boys need to learn in order to become good men?

A mother's influence on her sons is unique and valuable, but still sometimes moms don't understand what makes their boys tick. They want to help their sons grow up to become men of honor and integrity, but that's a tremendous challenge.

With refreshing honesty and a man's insight, author Rick Johnson offers the advice, understanding, and support every mom is looking for when it comes to raising godly sons. Using extensive research and humorous personal experiences, he addresses tough issues, such as communication, discipline, sexuality, and respect.

Mothers, including single moms as well as grandmothers and teachers, will find wise counsel and reassurance in this practical and helpful book.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Why is a trip to the garbage dump such a highlight in a boy's life?

Have you ever been confused by what makes your son tick? Do you sometimes find yourself wondering why your boy acts the way he does? Well, you're not alone. If boys are going to grow into men of integrity, they must learn loyalty, compassion, honor, courage, and perseverance as children. Let's be honest: raising sons to be good men is a tremendous challenge.

Recognizing the incredible value of a mother's influence on her son's life, Rick Johnson offers a practical, commonsense approach to help moms like you prepare for the challenges that will come as your boy grows. In That's My Son, Johnson combines refreshing honesty with extensive research and humorous insight to tackle topics like communication, sexuality, discipline, and respect.

Maybe you're a little overwhelmed at the idea of raising your son to be a man of character. Or perhaps you're wondering how to talk with your boy so that he will listen. Whatever your situation, you will find wise counsel and encouragement in this helpful and reassuring book.

Rick Johnson is founder of Better Dads, a fathering skills program that allows him to deliver seminars to businesses, churches, hospitals, prisons, and schools across the Northwest.

About the Author

Rick Johnson is founder of Better Dads, a fathering skills program designed to equip men to be more engaged in the lives of their children. That's My Son is based on a seminar Rick developed for single mothers entitled Single Moms--Raising Boys to Become Good Men. He continues to develop and deliver workshops and seminars nationally and internationally for businesses, churches, hospitals, and schools. Rick and his wife, Suzanne, are the parents of two teenagers and live in Gresham, Oregon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Reprinted edition (July 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800730771
• ISBN-13: 978-0800730772
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Motherhood
  • #73 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies

More About the Author

Rick founded Better Dads, a fathering skills program, based on the urgent need to empower men to lead and serve in their families and communities. Rick's books have expanded his work to include influencing the whole family, with life-changing insights for men and women on parenting, marriage, and personal growth. Inspiring and equipping through innovative multimedia presentations and seminars, Rick's resources, methods and personal approach have been transforming the lives of men, women, and their families for over ten years.

Rick speaks at many large conferences across the US and Canada including MOPS International conventions, Promise Keepers Canada events, Design 4 Living women's conferences, and Iron Sharpens Iron men's conferences. He is a popular keynote speaker at men's and women's retreats and conferences on parenting and marriage.

He is a nationally recognized expert in several areas having been asked to deliver papers at venues such as the County of Los Angeles Child Abuse Prevention Conference and the State of New York Fatherhood Conference. Rick's work with men and fathers was recognized when he was invited to the White House as part of the "Champions of Change" ceremony in 2012.

Prior to becoming a bestselling author and speaker, Rick was a small business owner for 16 years, owning and operating an environmental engineering firm. He attended George Fox University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Organizational Leadership, and has a Masters Degree in Education from Concordia University. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, has served on the Board of Directors for several community and business associations, and coaches high school basketball in his spare time. Rick has been featured in many national publications such as New Man Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, Christianity Today's Men of Integrity, Relevant Magazine, Pentecostal Evangel, Thriving Family, and Proverbs 31 Ministries Magazine.

Rick has appeared on over 250 radio programs and television shows around the United States and Canada. He is the former co-host of a live, weekly radio show and a frequent guest host of other local programs. Rick is actively involved with the men's and family ministries as well as speaking from the pulpit at various churches.

Rick and his wife Suzanne have two (nearly) adult children and live in Gresham, Oregon.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute "MUST READ" For Every Female August 5, 2005

By Dorinne Tye

Format:Paperback

Rick's book was an amazing eye opener into the mind of the male gender. I found it thought provoking, captivating, intriguing and at times downright hilarious.
*Have you ever found yourself frustrated time and time again at the ridiculous, anti-productive conversations with the males in your life?
*Do you get angry at what you perceive as the laziness of your son, nephews, brothers, fathers, husbands or male co-workers, when you are sure they are perfectly capable of what is wanted or needed?
*Does it seem like the harder you try the more frustrated everyone gets as the communication gap becomes insurmountably larger? Does it begin to feel then like you are "nagging"?
* Are you ever shocked to see how busy, loud, defiant or mean your boy seems?
*Are you a single mother bound by guilt that controls your parenting?
*Do you ever ask yourself, "what am I missing here" or "what am I doing wrong" when it comes to busy, macho, daring and fearless boys/men?
If you answered, "yes" to any or all of these, this book is a must read for you. I couldn't believe that such a small book could so thoroughly cover all this and more.
Much to my happiness, I found some pretty simple but undeniable truths in this book that I have put to the test with my son. I am having dramatically different interactions with dramatically different results. I always knew my 14-year-old son, was a good man, I just did not know how to tap into it. I now proudly look at my young man and say, "That's My Son," and he's turning into a real man, a good man, a man of integrity.
Update: It's been quite some time since I wrote this review and felt I needed to update it. My son is now going on 16 and I'm still using the practical, simple principles in this book with AMAZING results!

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight for mothers of boys! July 5, 2005

By Brian Smith

Format:Paperback

I'll say at the outset that I'm not a woman. I'm a man. And according to its title, this book is not addressed to me.

But I am a father of three boys (and a girl). I've also served fifteen years as a pastor and counselor, and I've become well acquainted with the frustration and grief of moms (especially single moms) trying to understand the seemingly incomprehensible: juvenile maledom. I've known many males--juvenile and adult--who have been raised by moms who couldn't (or didn't try to) figure them out. And I've known the deeply wounded wives, girlfriends, and children of these boys-become-men-who-remain-boys.

Thank God, moms now have Rick Johnson's book, That's My Son. Speaking from his own experience as a son, a parent of a son, and the coach and seminar teacher of hundreds (maybe by now thousands) of moms--Johnson offers wise, insight-filled, down-to-earth guidance for mothers of boys. He explains how and why boys are different from girls psychologically and spiritually. He shows what boys need in order to become men of strong, healthy character, and how even single moms can find ways to provide for these needs. And he gives practical steps moms can take to raise a boy well--how to communicate in a boy's "language," how to discipline a boy effectively, and several other areas of importance.

Johnson is a great story-teller, and he uses stories from his own experience and that of others, sometimes with humor, always with compassion. I highly recommend this book to any mother of a male.

71 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars THE "ONE" BOOK EVERY MOTHER MUST READ April 21, 2006

By Jules

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Being a full-time mom today is anything but politically correct. Our culture has reduced mothering to a side dish, a mere part of the meal. But, the truth is that motherhood IS a full-time vocation which requires more devotion than any career or pursuit. It is a job from which a woman never retires, a title which a woman will keep into eternity. And, today, who needs mothers most? Our young men. Boys in our culture are under attack like never before, and the men of the previous generation are failing as husbands, fathers and leaders.

If you're a mom and you're passionate about raising your son to be a man of character, a man of integrity, a man of virtue, a leader then you must read "That's My Son".

There are a plethora of wonderful Christian books about raising boys, from Robert Lewis' "Raising A Modern Day Knight" to Steve Farrar's "King Me". But, none of them are written specifically for the woman of the home, the mother. Mr. Johnson has filled that void and done it comprehensively.

There are only three parenting books that I keep in my library, to reference again and again. "The Mission of Motherhood" and "The Ministry of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson and "That's My Son" by Rick Johnson.