Toys stores always made me crazy. The noise, the (primary!) colors. the sheer pandemonium.
Then there were my children. My daughter always knew just what to buy with her spending money. One day a game, another time a puzzle, and on occasion, a fluffy stuffed animal. My son? Thoughtful, analytical, an astute observer of people and places…and utterly unable to choose between the truck and the Lego’s. We’d often leave the store in tears (him) and sheer frustration (me) and a sadly empty shopping bag.
We all know that famous conversation starter: Who would you invite to dinner dead or alive? And of course we all know how it is answered. The religious invite Jesus, the Dalai Lama and the Pope. The star struck invite George Clooney and the Jolie-Pitts. The philosophical invite Socrates and Plato; and the sentimental invite their deceased grandparents.
We all want ten minutes with one of them to impart their great wisdom in the hopes that they will answer the unanswerable questions. We want them to make sense of all the complexities of our lives.
A spate of recent incidents in the national spotlight has drawn new attention to how we, as a society, prepare boys to become men. While there are numerous applications of identity and character development, some of the most important revolve around relationships, sexuality and sexual behavior.
Earlier onset of puberty for boys (and girls) only accelerates the need to communicate with them about impending change and how to harness, process, understand and actualize complicated biological and psychological forces.
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Clinical Psychologist & Author
Child Psychiatrist & Author brazeltontouchpoints.org
Director, UCLA Parenting & Children’s Friendship Program
