I think the most important thing is to validate boys' emotions and let them know that it's okay to feel things deeply. That doesn't mean we have to tolerate inappropriate behavior, but we should give them the tools to cope with their feelings in a healthy way.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

Rages and temper tantrums are age appropriate behavior in young children, they barely understand what emotions feel like let alone how to process them. Expecting developmentally inappropriate behavior, like never having tantrums or crying, because a child is a certain gender is ridiculous and damaging

by Anonymous 2 years ago

Agreed. Telling children to not cry due to their birth gender is wrong, and leads to things like tantrums due to them being unable to properly express their full range of emotions.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

That's why I have anxiety

by Anonymous 2 years ago

I think there's a very broad middle ground between "boys don't cry" and "let it all hang out."

by Anonymous 2 years ago

The problem here isn't that men or boys should or shouldn't cry. It's women, other men, and society in general that make it not okay for men to cry. And we know this on some level. We know that showing weakness is bad for us. No matter how much women or other men tell us, "Oh, it's okay to cry, let out your emotions", most of us know the moment we do, it can be used against us.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

Your apart of the problem. Men don't cry around others because we know fools like you will scoff at the very idea of an emotional male.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

Not true. They cry around men but not women. Its the exac opposite

by Anonymous 2 years ago

I don't cry around anyone because of being told "if you cry I'll give you a reason." was said to me once or twice as a young boy. As a result I'll defend any male who wants to be emotional short of raging tantrums because that's what can cause emotional damage to others.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

I see nothing wrong with crying

by Anonymous 2 years ago

While that's okay everyone has their own idea of what 'within reason' might mean. Personally I wish I could cry over TV shows or books but it's a super rare thing even during the saddest moments in a story.

by Anonymous 2 years ago

We get it you have a strained relationship with your kids.

by Anonymous 2 years ago