Wisdom from a Boy Mom: Help Your Son Be a Good First Boyfriend

Remind him that he's setting the bar for every future guy his girlfriend will date (includes a printable for your son)

Several years ago, I asked boy moms on social media what they taught their sons about dating.

Many boy moms stepped up and shared their best insight. It inspired the list below. One mom noted that she intentionally teaches her son to be a great first boyfriend—because that sets the bar for every future guy his girlfriend will date.

Her son has taken this advice to heart, and time and again, she’s seen it reflected positively in the girls he chooses to date. She’s benefitting from her own advice! And what I predict, after a lifetime of listening to women talk about their mother-in-laws, is that moms who think like her are the future mother-in-laws that girls will love and rave about.

These are the future mother-in-laws who will feel like they’re gaining a daughter, not losing a son.

The opposite approach (which many take) is when moms treat their son like he is the Baby Jesus. Nobody is worthy of him, and his mom makes the relationship all about him. I’ve seen this dynamic a lot, and it also leads to division. In most cases, it pushes the girl away or makes her put up a guard to protect her heart, and if the boy is truly in love with her, he will follow her lead.

Clearly, nobody wants this. Already I pray for the families that my daughters will marry into and for their future mother-in-laws because I want them to be close! I do my best to teach my girls—and other girls too through my books, podcast, and girl mom content—how to treat friends and boyfriends well, and I’m grateful to every boy mom who aims to do the same.