52 Things Sons Need from Their Dads: What Fathers Can Do to Build a Lasting Relationship

by Jay Payleitner

Overview

Perfect? No. But you’re still the right dad for your boy.

Bestselling author Jay Payleitner, dad of four grown sons (and one amazing daughter), gives you a bucketful of man-friendly ideas on how build a father-and-son relationship. Good news is, you don’t have to say a lot. By your life and example, you can

• show your boy why it’s good to be a guy
• demonstrate how to treat women well
• teach him to work hard and have fun, often at the same time
• show him how to live with honesty and self-respect
• give him the inner confidence to live a purposeful life

These 52 quick-to-read chapters offer great ways to relate or spend time as dad and son. And each idea provides a new building block for a father-son relationship that will help your boy along the path to becoming a man.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736957816
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	03/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	542 KB

About the Author

Jay Payleitner is one of the top freelance Christian radio producers in the United States. He has worked on Josh McDowell Radio, Today's Father, Jesus Freaks Radio for the Voice of the Martyrs, Project Angel Tree with Chuck Colson, and many others. He's also a popular speaker on parenting and marriage and the author of dozen-plus books, including the bestselling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad, 52 Things Wives Need from a Husband, and 52 Things Sons Need from Their Dad; he also created "The Dad Manifesto." Jay has also served as an AWANA director, a wrestling coach, and the executive director of the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative; he now partners with the National Center for Fathering, whose efforts he fosters and promotes. He and his wife, Rita, live near Chicago, where they've raised five great kids and loved on ten foster babies.

Table of Contents

Foreword Jerry Jenkins 9

The Father-Son Staredown 11

A Son Needs His Dad…

1 To Be a Student of His Growing Son 13

2 To Not Kill the Creepy Centipede Right Away 17

3 To Know He Is Not a Clone 21

4 To Not Be Dazzled by the Digital Age 23

5 To Teach Him Stuff Your Dad Taught You 27

6 To Treat Him like a Future Dad 31

7 To Finish the Insect Collection 35

8 To Have Him Ditch School to Take Some Cuts in the Cage 39

9 To Pick Your Battles 41

10 To Always, Always, Always Have an Inflating Needle Handy 45

11 To Teach Him the True Purpose of Competition 47

12 To Purchase the Entire Wendy's Dollar Menu. Twice 51

13 To Think Before You Click 53

14 To Buy a Unicycle 57

15 To Get a New Hobby 61

16 To Be the Smartest Man in the World 65

17 To Bequeath Some Mad Skills 67

18 To Be His Sparring Partner 71

19 To Finally Grasp That Poem You Read Back in High School 75

20 To Bestow Quiet Courage 79

21 To Remember What It Was Like 81

22 To Follow Through on Punishments 85

23 To Put a Positive Spin on Video Games 87

24 To Stir the Conversation Pot 89

25 To Sign Him Up for a Traveling Sports Team 91

26 To Respond to Blunders with "Did You Learn Anything?" 93

27 To Tram Him to Trust Wisely 95

28 To Help Him Not Choke in the Clutch 99

29 To Expose Him to the Dark Side 103

30 To Really Love His Mom 107

31 To Cut Him a Few Deals 111

32 To Defend Twenty-First-Century Chivalry 115

33 To Take the Generational Challenge 119

34 To Not Be the Jerk in the Stands 121

35 To Insist He Come to a Men's Event 125

36 To Work 127

37 To Break Open the Oil Paints 131

38 To Be Disappointed in Him 135

39 To Confirm That Losing Ain't All Bad 139

40 To Let Him Skim the Pool, Build a Tree Fort, and Sweep the Porch 141

41 To Open a Dozen Doors to Spiritual Truth 145

42 To Teach Him How to Build a Fire. Without Matches 149

43 To Let Boys Be Boys 151

44 To Help Him See His Truest Value 155

45 To Schedule Mountaintop Connections 159

46 To Say Yes, So You Can Say No 163

47 To Give Your Blessing 165

48 To Calmly Stop the Tractor 169

49 To Teach Him How to Shake Hands 173

50 To Never Forget He's Watching and Learning 177

51 To Pass the Torch 181

52 To Be There 183

Notes 185

Editorial Reviews

“You’ll discover rich benefits in Jay’s 52 suggestions.”
—Jerry B. Jenkins, bestselling author

“Is there anything a man will ever do that is more daunting and rewarding than investing in his son? Jay gives us both inspiration and practical pathways so a dad can reach out to his boy and say to him with passion and conviction, ‘Follow me as I follow Christ.’”
—Brian Doyle, founder and president of Iron Sharpens Iron

“You can do this stuff! In 52 Things Sons Need from Their Dads, Jay Payleitner shows you practical ways to be a better dad in the little things now…so you won’t have regrets later. I love this book.”
—Tim Shoemaker, speaker and author of Super Husband, Super Dad and You Can Be the Hero Your Family Needs

“What is the best way to raise boys to be good men? By spending time with Dad. Jay’s new book continues to give parents wisdom and insight into healthy relationships—this time the unique and powerful bond between a father and his son. If you want a close relationship with your boy, I recommend you read this book.”
—Rick Johnson, bestselling author of Better Dads, Stronger Sons and A Man in the Making: Strategies to Help Your Son Succeed in Life

“Every son longs for the affirmation and blessing of his father. This book is a great practical tool to help complete that transaction. These 52 things are a great investment for any father to give his son.”
—Dr. Jim McBride, executive pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer of Sherwood Pictures

“Jay’s books have caught on internationally—I’ve been finding them on shelves of bookstores around the world. Readers are inspired and entertained by Jay’s positive, thoughtful, and fun-loving ways. With warmth and respect for his family, Jay takes his responsibility as a dad seriously…without taking himself too seriously.”
—Ellen Banks Elwell, author of The One Year Devotions for Moms and Life Is Beautiful

“Reading Jay’s engaging book 52 Things Sons Need from Their Dads took me back to my youth working side by side with my dad on our farm. I learned about love, hard work, and leadership. The same kind of lessons all dads need to pass on to their boys.”
—Bob Tiede, director of Global Operations Leadership Development for Cru

“The most important thing a dad can give to his son is his time. In these 52 easy-to-read chapters, Jay gives you plenty of ways to make that time meaningful.”
—Tom Cheshire, lead servant, Relevant Practical Ministry for Men

From the Publisher