#12-What Sons Need to Know and Dads Need to Teach Them

This is for dads, especially dads of sons. This is the answer to the question you have and have had his whole life, “what do I need to teach him so he can become a good man?”. That’s a big question and it has kept numerous dads up at night.

This list could go on for a long time but I’ve broken it down to a few big picture skills. 

Number one on any list should be how to manage money. Dads, teach your sons how to save a little bit out of every paycheck no matter how small the amount. Also teach them how to establish a spend plan AKA a budget. Get them to set up either the cash envelope Dave Ramsey teaches or an app that tells them when their spending on a category like eating out is getting close to being over the limit. 

Young men need to learn how to cook a few basic meals, which means they will need to know how to grocery shop. I worked in a grocery store in high school and I learned the secret: buy as much as possible from the shelves on the perimeter of the store. In most stores that’s fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood. You also avoid processed foods. 

I haven’t mastered this one but a guy needs to know how to do laundry. Teach them how to sort, which detergent to use, which water temp/wash cycle. Don’t forget to teach them to fold the laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer! It’s a lot easier to get dressed in the morning if you don’t have to dig through a pile to find something to wear. 

Most young guys aren’t known for being neat freaks. You can change this by telling them the first thing a woman they want to spend time with is going to do is check if their bathroom and fridge are clean. This is so easy to do, just commit to clean one room per night. Do a little bit every day. Put the dishes in the dishwasher or wash them after every meal. 

Next on the list is vehicle maintenance. The big three-regular oil changes, rotate tires every 5k miles, and keep your vehicle clean. 

BONUS- Teach him how to use jumper cables and how to change a tire.

Start with these and your son will be on the right path to being a good man. 

One Small Step for Men….

If you’ve made your point, stop talking.