Introduction Study Questions
1. Describe your current relationship with your son(s). Are they young? Teenagers? All grown up? Is your relationship with them what you want it to be?
My son’s are Owen 7years old and Tommy 2 ½ years old.
Owen is in first grade and I stay home with Tommy. Owen is strong-minded (like me), he doesn’t like the answer no and often wants reasoning behind the answer no. He is too smart (which is good and bad), it seems as if he can see right through me. We don’t but heads often but when we do…look out! I think he has PMS mood swings. I love hanging out with him and often miss him when he goes to school.
Tommy is just starting to explore and push the boundaries. He is hitting and kicking a lot lately. Therefore we have introduced time out and the word sorry. He too is very smart! I’ve started “homeschooling” him and the activities I’ve picked out are not challenging enough.
My relationship with Owen is not what I want it to be. I’m jealous of the relationship he has with his father. My relationship with Tommy is right where I want it to be. I think both relationship stages have a lot to do with their ages!
2. Think back to when you first realized you were having a boy (or boys!). What was your response? Were you happy? Excited? Sad? Overwhelmed? Do you think your initial response to the idea of having boys has affected your parenting of them over the years?
I wanted boys! The first one was not planned, the second one was. I was excited about boys! I was very girly and didn’t have boys in my life so I was eager to see what was in store (mostly sports). I was hoping to avoid the drama girls bring; boy was I wrong! Owen is acting exactly like I did at his age.
My initial response may have a little to do with my parenting style. I was excited to have boys and I still am.
3. Are your boys typical rough and tumble? Or are they a bit different than the stereotypical definition of boys? How has this affected your parenting over the years?
My boys are very typical rough and tumble. I’m amazed at how much is boy they are born with. They love cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, dirt, bugs, snakes, guns (though I’m not happy with that). Despite my efforts to diversify them they choose not to play kitchen, dress up or other role-playing ideas I present.
Yes it has affected my parenting, I cater to them verse my own ideas. But I still try to present the opportunities I just don’t get my feelings hurt and don’t spend a lot of money on it.
4. Do your boys have good role models (father, uncles, other godly men)? If not, try to think of one man you could ask to be a stronger part of their lives. Write that man's name here and commit to praying that the Lord would put this need on his heart.
My son’s have a wonderful role model, their father, Josh! He is so so good with them! Josh is a Godly man and he to wants our boys to grow up having a relationship with God and become Godly men. I’m so blessed to have such a magnificent husband and father.
5. How have you prayed for your son(s) in the past? Is the idea of praying the Word of God for them new to you? If so, how do you think it will change the way you pray for your son(s)?
I have prayed for my sons sporadically in the past. Praying the Word of God for them is new for me and I’m very excited to start. It will definitely change the way I pray for my sons; it gives me more clear direction and purpose to my prayers.
The Battle Study Questions
1. In this chapter, Brooke says that “all it takes to lose the truth of the Word of God is one set of parents who fail to teach it.” Did your parents raise you in a Christian home to know and love the Lord? What kind of impact has your upbringing had on the way you parent your sons?
I was kinda raised in a Christian home. My father is Catholic and my mother Presbyterian. They enrolled my sister and I in a Christian preschool where we learned about God and Jesus. This is where I accepted God into my heart and became a follower of Christ. My husband was raised in a Christian home and shares the same beliefs with me.
My upbringing has impacted the way we parent our sons. We go to church together and talk about God as a family.
2. How does it make you feel to know that a godly man, such as Eli, could fail to raise his sons to know and love the Lord?
I don’t think this is an isolated story, I think he may have been to involve with the congregation that he failed to do the most important part of parenting, communication. He may not have communicated with his son’s why having a relationship with God is so rewarding.
3. Have you ever thought about the importance of raising sons from the perspective of this story? What kind of response does this create in your heart?
I think it is important to share with your sons why you personally have a relationship with God and allow them to accept him into their own hearts. I will expose them to God’s word and encourage them to pray but I will allow them to make their own decision and pray that it will be the right decision.
4. Do you believe God holds us responsible for the way we train our children?
That is a deep question, I don’t think I have an response to at this time.
5. Pray and ask the Lord to show you any ways that you've failed to raise your sons to know and love Him and how you can change this to bring glory to Him. Praise Him for the way He has led you so far.
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