What’s your son’s default location?

Jackson, a 16 year old, was tinkering on his car in the garage when his mom brought her laptop out and set up a makeshift desk. She didn’t say much– just did her work and asked Jackson, once, what he was working on. When she left an hour later, both she and Jackson were smiling.

She had keyed into a secret of parenting a teen boy– figure out his default location, and be there. It may be the garage, the gym, the football field, or by a gaming console.

Be tactful— don’t interrupt, ask annoying questions, or show up every single night. Give yourself a task and a time limit. Done in the right way, this tactic can help your teen boy feel seen and loved.

For more ideas on raising boys to be godly men, visit Trail Life USA or RaisingGodlyBoys.com.