Instead of saying 'be a man', how fathers can raise responsible sons

Young children are at their most vulnerable stage. Their minds are impressionable and everything they see or hear is what they believe. That said, it is during this time, parents can shape their minds in a positive direction. In a world where girls are told to return home early, dress in a proper way, where boys are spared household chores and given more importance, we as parents must change that and focus on raising girls who are confident and boys who are responsible and take accountability.

So how can fathers contribute to raising responsible, emotionally intelligent sons...

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In order to raise well-behaved, disciplined and confident sons, fathers should model respect and responsibility in them. Rather than taking over their tasks and trying to handle their mistakes, let them take accountability for it all. Doing so will not only help them become better humans, but it will also help them become more efficient and effective.

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Hard work is the key to success. You must tell your child that. Winning however should not be the ultimate goal. As far as ambition goes, one must remain humble and work efficiently to reach their goals. Win or lose, that shouldn't come in the way of how you perceive yourself. A father should be able to share this important lesson with their son.

In order to teach children respect and responsibility, they must also be taught compassion and kindness. Without these two qualities, they may not be able to understand human emotions and how others feel when they're looked down upon. Being able to respect others starts from building a surrounding that is kind and compassionate.

One of the most important things to teach your son is consent. As a father, you must set a good example of how consent works. Regardless of whether it concerns someone else's consent or your child's own consent to something, your sole responsibility should be to teach them why 'no' means 'no'. The best way to do that is by telling them that they control what happens to them and their bodies. Similarly, ensure that you tell them to respect the other person's decision to whether to allow them near them or not. Consent works both ways.

From the time we are born to when we grow up to be adults, our actions are determined by the roles constructed by society. When it comes to gender, boys and girls and men and women are asked to follow certain socially constructed, stereotypical roles that somehow tend to limit a girl's/woman's choices, while giving the man or the body the liberty to do what they want.

As a father and being of a similar sex, you must help your son rise above these gender norms. Teach them to be equally responsible for household chores and cooking. Just like you expect your daughters to be excellent caretakers, you must model these qualities in your sons too. Most importantly, love all your kids equally. Never underestimate any of your children. All kids are unique and beautiful. Love them all!