Breaking Free from Gender Stereotypes for My Little Boy

“We need to toughen him up.” It’s just a harmless phrase, right? Except it’s not. It’s the first step in teaching boys to suppress their emotions, to believe that kindness is weakness, and that their worth is measured by how much they can “take it.” But here’s the thing—our boys aren’t training for some brutal gladiator battle. And the way we respond to these outdated ideas now will shape the men they become. So, are we raising boys who feel safe expressing themselves, or are we setting them up for a lifetime of emotional struggle?