A Word from the Boys: Welcome to My Book

Tuesday August 31, 2010


Time for the last chapter of I’m Outnumbered! One Mom’s Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys. I must admit – I got some help on this one.

I gave all four boys a number of questions to answer. Among them:

What was great about growing up with brothers?
What was hard about growing up with brothers?
What highlights of family life stand out?
How do you feel about limits on technology?
Can you “be your own boy” among a bunch of brothers?
Can brothers also be friends?

The answers were varied and interesting. I held my breath on a few – like that technology one – but it seems the boys have seen the wisdom of Mom and Dad’s approach there.

Interesting that I didn’t ask a question about sibling rivalry, but it cropped up anyway. And from more than one of them. There were a few admissions, some advice for parents and boys, and some real honesty.

(One of my favorite responses – when I asked “If you and your wife have boys someday, what will you do differently?” the youngest said, “That’s just too weird to think about.” Yeah, he’s the youngest.)

This chapter is a fun look inside the household of boys, so don’t miss it.

Today is the day – my book is officially on the shelves! Yesterday I had my first live radio interview, and that was exciting. Keep your eyes open for posts and giveaways. A number of my good blogger friends are helping with publicity, and I’m thankful.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the previews, and I hope you enjoy the book itself even more!

This is SO exciting! I'm sitting here with a smile on my face...!

A Band of Brothers: Welcome to My Book

Monday August 30, 2010


Chapter 9 of I’m Outnumbered, A Band of Brothers, has to do with the brother bond. With competition, sibling rivalry, and the tensions that can crop up as you raise a bunch of boys, keeping sight of that bond is an important thing. As the boys change and grow and leave the nest, family dynamics change. And Mom won’t always be there to be the glue.

As the boys leave the nest, the ties that join them stretch and sometimes they snap. The way they relate to one another can change – for better and for worse. This chapter includes hints on how to help the boys deal with that change. As young men, they need to work problems out themselves, but sometimes they need a little coaching to get started. Hopefully, if they attack problems and iron them out early, the brother bond will stay strong and solid. (I have been known to tell mine, “I do not want there to be a Christmas someday where one brother doesn’t show up because of some silly argument!”)

And as they grow, their needs will change. How they relate to one another changes, but how they relate to Mom and Dad will change, too. It’s important to realize that different doesn’t always mean bad. Anticipating those changes can help a mom adjust to them. With the information in this chapter, my hope is that you can support them through the changes in their lives and help them remain brothers of the heart.

Tomorrow is August 31st – the official launch day for I’m Outnumbered. Be sure to visit tomorrow to hear about the last chapter, A Word from the Boys. Check back and hear what the boys said when I gave them a chance to speak!