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Why Today’s Boys are Lost (and What We’re Missing)
Mentorship, Purpose, and Rites of Passage in a World That’s Forgotten Them
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Focused Purpose
Ever feel like raising boys today is like trying to herd cats—except the cats are blindfolded, wearing roller skates, and somehow on fire? You’re not alone. I’ve been fumbling through fatherhood too, especially after learning boys are three times more likely than girls to die by suicide and struggling academically at alarming rates. Yikes

Want the full breakdown? Read the full article here.
Through my own bumbling attempts at fatherhood, here's what I think our boys might be missing:
1. Genuine Mentorship (Where Did All the Old Wise Men Go?)
My dad taught me in his woodshop; today's boys get life advice from TikTok. We’ve scheduled our kids to death, leaving zero time for those “pass me that wrench” moments where wisdom sneaks in.
➡️ Something I’m trying: Deliberately doing nothing with my kids sometimes. No phones, no plans—just existing together and seeing what happens.
2. The Purpose Puzzle
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” might be the wrong question. Maybe we should ask, “Who do you want to become?” I’ve checked all society’s success boxes and still sometimes feel like I’m missing something important.
➡️ My experiment: Family dinners where we talk about stories of service, generosity, or selflessness instead of my repeated requests to put dirty socks IN the hamper.
3. Emotional Openness (Yes, Boys Really Do Cry)
I’m still unlearning the “rub some dirt on it” approach to feelings, and honestly, talking about emotions sometimes feels as comfortable as wearing someone else’s underwear. But I’m trying.
➡️ Worth attempting: Sharing our highs and lows at dinner, even when my “low” involves screaming internally at work meetings.
4. The Physical Disconnection
Our great-grandfathers built barns; we build spreadsheets. The satisfaction of creating something with your hands beats any digital achievement (though I'll never admit how many colorful words were uttered during our backyard playset construction).
➡️ Consider this: Building something—anything—together, even if it’s marginally functional and questionably attractive.
5. Rites of Passage (We Need More Than a Diploma)
When exactly did I become a man? Was it when I could finally reach the top cabinet without a stool? Our boys drift into adulthood with no clear markers except maybe “can legally buy lottery tickets now.”
➡️ My half-baked plan: Creating meaningful challenges for my boys that don’t involve venomous Amazonian ants (Google it—yikes!).
Read the full article on our website for a deeper dive into these critical issues and more practical solutions.
What do you think our boys are missing? Got any mentorship rituals or traditions that work for you? Hit reply—I’m all ears.
Still learning while leading,
The Focused Fool
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