I would not be where I am today without the men in my life. My Dad, my three brothers (no sisters), my husband, and my three sons (insert theme song here).

In recent years, the news and media have scared me while raising my sons. Reporters digging for ANY damning information of high profile people of things they did in High School have had men scrambling for their yearbooks, photos, and letters they wrote looking for any signs of foul play towards any women they had relationships with.

Now in the age of digital phones and everyone has a camera with them we, as parents, have had to teach our sons that they really need to be careful when they are with friends. Any video, picture, or messages can come back to haunt them later in life. So what can parents of sons do to raise them in a #MeToo world?

Talk About Social Media

I teach Digital Citizenship to my students which helps me to teach it to my sons as well. Boys need to know that other people’s perspective is what becomes reality when it comes to photos and videos being shared in social networks.

Even something as innocent as sharing a photo of your hard work on your “guns and 6-pack” shirtless in front of a mirror can be taken in a different way by others.

Relationships as teenagers change very quickly too. An innocent “flirty” text message all in fun one moment, can change to harassment in another moment.

The camera and messages on their phones can be powerful tools when used correctly. It can also be just as detrimental to them later in life.

Teach Them About Respecting Women

Chivalry is not dead in our family. We have taught our sons since they were little that women were to be respected. Some of the things we have taught them are:

• Hold a door open for a woman.
• Open her car door.
• Help her carry her things.
• Let her go first.
• Take care of her.

These things show respect for the opposite sex. It is not showing she is below them, but that she is treated well in their presence.

Just this morning our youngest son, Chris, was making pancakes for himself for breakfast. I was thrilled that he will be able to cook for himself when he is out there on their own and it won’t be just fast food.

Out of the blue, he sets a plate with a “dog” pancake next to me. So sweet! Proud mama moment! He didn’t have to do it, I never asked that he make me a pancake. He just did it to be kind and to take care of his mom.

There is a great video from Chad Prather about masculinity that I have shown our sons that really explains what it means to be a man and do not be afraid of being a man in our society today.

What are some things you teach your sons in your families? Are there men/boys in your life that you admire and look up to? What are the qualities that make someone a “Man of Honor”? Let’s get the conversation going in the comments below.