What Does it Take to be a Man

Posted on by Bob Richley

The group Boston asked in 1986 “What does it take to be a man?” Often society answers that question by portraying a man as tough, strong, independent, courageous, and non-emotional. The ideal men are the John Wayne’s and Chuck Norris’s of the world.

Tom Scholz of Boston answered the question differently with words like “a gentle hand,” tenderness,” “weak or strong” and “what you can feel.”

In the children’s picture book, “Boys Can Be Strong & Emotional” author Esther Pia Cordova answers the question in a similar way as Scholz. Jimmy, a bear, is to become a man. He must go through a test given to him by his Dad. The tests are challenging and frightening. Jimmy decides he needs help, so he seeks both advice and help from his friends. For the final challenge, Jimmy wisely decides that it is too dangerous.

Jimmy learns that to be a man, it is good to seek help because “real men are not always good at everything”. He learned that real men “make smart decisions.” It’s a smart decision not to do something too dangerous. Jimmy learns that real men can cry as he witnesses a tear on his dad’s face. He learns that real men “can still have fun.”

These lessons are contrary to the messages our boys often receive from society. It is important that children understand the lessons being taught them when they watch movies, play games and interact with peers. When those messages contradict what we want children to learn, it is our responsibility as parents, educators, and caregivers to make children aware and to present the lessons we do want them to learn. Cordova gives us a tool in her story to use to do just that. As we read this story we can engage our children and ask, “What should Jimmy do?” ”Is it good to ask help? “ “Should he do something that is dangerous?”
I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants children to learn that men need to ask for help, need to make wise decisions and can be emotional.

Author Bio:

When Esther was 7 years old she had a phase during which she refused to do her homework alone. She thought she couldn’t do it. This is far too often what we tell ourselves, even as adults. Recently, Ester attended a coding bootcamp. The experience was the most challenging thing she had ever done, but that is where she learned about the growth mindset and the powerful word YET. It’s such a simple but important concept. Esther wanted to share this discovery with kids everywhere and help parents to embrace the growth mindset as well. She believes that this simple concept will help children overcome their fears and strive to learn as much as they can in life. She wants people to stop saying “I can’t do that,” and start saying “I can’t do that, YET!”

For more information go to

http://powerofyet.com

https://www.facebook.com/powerofyet/

Fulfill the Dream and teach kids to look inside not outside (A review of I Am Tan by Michele Rose

Posted on by Bob Richley

How do you want your children to judge themselves and others? To quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Do you want them to judge “by the color of their skin” or “by the content of their character?” I want my kids to judge by what’s inside not what’s outside.
I need to model this for my children as I interact with people of all races and who are different than I am. It will also help to read them stories that present the issue so that we can discuss it. I Am Tan by Michele Rose is a book the discusses race, specifically being of a mixed race. I am white. I married a Filipina woman. We have 2 little girls. My girls are a mixed race. This book will give me a wonderful opportunity to discuss race with them. One of my concerns as a parent is how others will judge my girls since they are mixed. This book will help me to prepare them for what they may encounter and will give the opportunity to discuss how we should view others.
In I Am Tan Christian is a six-year-old boy of mixed race. His dad is black and his mother is white. He tries to figure out his own racial identity. He wonders if he is black, white or mixed. He wonders what label to use to identify himself to others when asked. As he explores, he learns about stereotypes and that there are other mixed children. I especially liked that he encountered a girl who was half Filipino. He learns that he should view others by who they are on the inside not what they appear to be on the outside.
This book offers many points of discussion on race, prejudice, judging others, and stereotypes. I would recommend this book to any parent who wants to teach their child to judge not “by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
There may not be a hotter topic in today’s society than race. With all the riots, shootings and other violence that is happening because of racial tension, we need books like I Am Tan. We need to teach the next generation the lessons present is this book. We are a divided nation not only by race but also by beliefs, by politics, by social economic status, and other differences. We need to teach our children to celebrate differences. We need to teach them to look at other people’s heart. We have the challenge to raise the next generation to fulfill Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that ALL men are created equal… I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Brief Author Bio:

This is my first children’s book. I saw a need for a book discussing race and stereotypes on a child’s level, so I fulfilled the need. I am a photographer and used pictures of my son, to create the drawings in the book. I am currently in school for creative writing and art.

Review of The Adventures of Karlie and Kyle: An Adventure at Old Man Joe’s

Posted on by Bob Richley

Do your kids ever lie? Do they ever tell you they are going to do something but instead do something they are not supposed to do? Do they know you tell them not to do things for their own protection?

I have two children. I want them to understand that I tell them to do things and not to do things for their own protection. I want them to be honest with me and to discuss when they want to do something.

I think reading books with children is a good way to start a discussion with children. Books that teach moral lessons are a great way to discuss the lesson with the child.

The Adventures of Karlie and Kyle: An Adventure at Old Man Joe’s by Cathy Fraschilla is a good book to start a discussion on lying and listening to parents. Karlie and Kyle lie to their mom about what they are going to do because they want to do something that they know their mother wouldn’t like. Their mom warns them about a potential storm. When the storm hits, Karlie and Kyle realize the danger they put themselves in by lying and not listening to their mom. Telling the truth and listening to parent are valuable lessons. I want to teach these lessons to my children.

This is a simple story and is simply written. Its value is in the lessons that could be discussed with children. I would recommend it for discussing the lessons of telling the truth and obedience.

Good questions to ask might be “Why do the kids lie?” “What did their mom say?” “What was dangerous about the lie?” “What do you think could have happened?” There are many potential questions to ask as you read this story to kids.

I would recommend this book as a tool to help to your children valuable lessons and to help them think about the consequences of their actions.

About the Author:

Cathy Fraschilla is a stay-at-home mother living with her husband and three children in Pennsylvania. Fraschilla, who has always enjoyed reading since she was 3, spends most of her time volunteering at her children’s school when needed. She has been involved in various fields of employment, including editorial, healthcare and education. As an author, she aims to teach children in a captivating and impressionable way through her books, ideally inspiring them to be all that they can be.