Response to “Game Over,” Keith Gessen’s New York Times magazine article (3/22/21) about being a very sporty dad with a non-sporty son

Response to “Game Over,” Keith Gessen’s New York Times magazine article (3/22/21) about being a very sporty dad with a non-sporty son

Many men credit sports as having served as the cornerstone in their relationship with their fathers, as does Keith Gessen in his article Game Over (3/22/21). Tossing a ball or driving to events together offers an easy backdrop for talking and hanging out as well as a...

The Dangers of Romanticized Masculinity

Whether it’s innate, or acquired from their respective environments, or due to a lack of socialization, or some mix of these, boys have a long history of doing odd or mischievous things that amuse grown-ups and make them think, Well, there’s a boy for you! Norman...
Helping “The Last Boys Picked” : Accommodating Non-Athletic Boys in Elementary Education

Helping “The Last Boys Picked” : Accommodating Non-Athletic Boys in Elementary Education

In the agonizing moments before their names are called, those last boys picked for the kickball or basketball team during gym, or its un-legislated twin—recess—are getting a tutorial in what it means to be considered a liability. Alternating turns, the team...

“My son hates sports but I want him to try some new ones. How do I know if I’m encouraging him or pushing him?”  Discovering what’s right for your son

    You’re getting ready to load your son and his gear into the car and notice that he’s gone back into the house for what must be his fifteenth trip to the bathroom. When he comes out, his eyes are red and watery. He tells you that he doesn’t feel well....

What Am I Teaching My Son If I Let Him Quit Playing Sports Just Because He’s Afraid of the Ball?

  You are teaching him… that you respect him, even if you don’t understand his choices. that you will listen closely to what he says and take it at face value. that it pays to speak up. that he doesn’t have to disguise his real feelings in order to gain or...