Review (Idiot's Guide to Raising Boys)

"This book delivers the readers to a respectful, gender-aware world where our sons are treasured along with their equally wonderful sisters." --Laurie & Barron Helgoe

The Idiot's Guide to Raising Boys by Laurie and Barron Helgoe is really like an encyclopedia  for parents of boys. This book covers everything from circumcision and bed wetting to dating and college.

The authors suggest reading the book once from start to finish and then checking back in on specific chapters as your son grows and changes. I loved the references early in the book likening boys to Billy from The Family Circus cartoons who took the longest possible way from here to there so he could experience a little bit of everything . That is completely my son now. Who knows where all the exploring will take him in life?

I also loved the dating section of this book and how it talks about how we as parents are from the "Mars v. Venus" generation. Now, no child wants to be handed the book, but they make great points about showing your son how women communicate differently by using ourselves (mothers) as examples. Ex. "Mom doesn't feel so well. And yes I could do "x, y, z", but often as a woman I just want you to hear me out."

I think this is a great resource to have on hand and will make a handy reference guide for each transition we experience as parents to an amazingly curious son.

Check out Jan's perspective on the "Greening Season" of little boys here.

A copy of this great resource could be yours, enter below.

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To Enter: (Please note bundling comments will only give you one entry to win. Please leave four separate comments to increase your chances of winning.) Please be sure to include your e-mail address in the following format (jane at gmail dot com) with your comments. Winners will be notified by e-mail. I will no longer be posting a separate "Winner" post.

1) What do you think would be/is the most rewarding/challenging part of raising boys?

2) What was a moment in life that you think your parents got "just right"?

3) "Like" Have Stroller Will Travel on Facebook and leave a note here letting me know that you have done so. It's easy, you can do it right from this page if you scroll down on the right hand side. Already "like" the page? Just let me know that as well!

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Open to residents in the U.S. with a "street" mailing address. (No PO Boxes.)

Winner will be selected at random on November 4, 2010 at 11:59pm. Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize. If not claimed a new winner will be selected. Tell your friends, tell your family—spread the word. Good Luck!


[Disclosure: Alpha Books provided me a copy of Raising Boys for test/review purposes and agreed to provide a book to one lucky reader as well. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone and were in no way influenced by Alpha Books..]