Raising (Emotionally) Healthy Boys {Podcast Episode 012 with Christie Thomas}
Friends. Today. I have an episode you don’t want to miss!
As we continue to cover the topics from the newly released BOY MOM BOOK, today we come to Chapter 11, which is all about raising emotionally healthy sons. I love this topic! I’ve often said that though I studied Sports Medicine in College, my favorite classes were all of the psychology and human development classes. I am fascinated with everything related to mindset, personal growth and all the rest.
But when I shared a Facebook post recently about children and anxiety, the response blew me away. A whole lot of moms commented or messaged me saying that they are raising a son who struggles with anxiety. That’s when I knew who I wanted to interview for today’s episode!
My friend Christie Thomas is, yes! — a boy mom, but she is also the author of some of the sweetest (and most lovely!) books for children dealing with the emotional stressors of fear and anxiety. Christie has done her research and she also has personal experience on this topic. I just LOVE what she has to share.
As usual, there is a whole lot more about raising emotionally healthy boys in the Boy Mom Book. (There’s also a great end-of-chapter resource you won’t want to miss.) In this episode we really narrowed in on the topic of kids who are dealing with anxiety and some very practical ideas to help them get through it. (Which is always my goal!) I learned a lot from Christie, and I think you will too.
Here are a few notes from our conversation!
**Note: Sorry if you find the volume to be a little inconsistent in this episode…I’m working on my technology still and did my best to even it out, but Christie’s part of the interview is a bit quiet..
- Catch Christie’s 3 signs of an anxious child.
- Three steps to helping calm an anxious/stressed child:
1. Help them to notice and name their worry brain. (your “amygdala.”) “Name it to tame it.”
2. Teach them to talk back to the worry. **Use catch phrases.
3. Teach them to be brave.
- Find Christie’s downloads here:
Scriptures for Anxiety and Depression: https://www.christiethomaswriter.com/encourage/scriptures-for-anxiety-and-depression/
10 day anxiety prayer challenge: https://www.christiethomaswriter.com/5-day-anxiety-prayer-challenge/ (Christie lengthened the challenge after the original 5-day offer, but didn’t change the link name. ;))
- Don’t miss Christie’s very own knock-knock joke (only a boy-mom would appreciate this!)
- Christie’s closing wisdom for newer moms: Find community! Don’t wait to reach out and connect with other women!
You can find this and all episodes of the Boy Mom Podcast on all of the various podcast platforms…here are just a few of them:
iTunes (now called Apple Podcasts)
Or you can listen right here! 🙂
Find Christie’s beautiful children’s books on Amazon:
Christie is the mom of 3 fabulous boys who love to read her books! She’s the author of Quinn’s Promise Rock and Quinn Says Goodbye, which are picture books for kids who need to know that God is with them in the hard stuff. She also helps moms nurture the hope of Christ in their homes at christiethomaswriter.com.
Find Christie online:
Check out her newest book: Quinn Says Goodbye
Thank you guys so much for being a part of this new podcast! I absolutely appreciate all of the ratings and reviews on this podcast so far (and if you haven’t left one yet, you can do thatRIGHT HERE, now!)
ALSO: If you’ve read BOY MOM, would you be soooooo kind and leave a review over on Amazon? (just click here, so easy!!) THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Hey there! Thank you for addressing this area for boys! I have lots to learn. I do have a pressing question: my 11yr old son is afraid to try new things. He has practiced basketball with his school team, but now that it is time to play in the games, he does not want to continue. He gets very angry and adamant when I encourage him to play. What should I do? Force him to do what I think would be best for him? Or let him decide not to participate?
HI Darce! Thanks for commenting and yes that is a great question. I’m wondering if you’ve read my book, Boy Mom yet? I do address this in there! 🙂 Unfortunately there is not one easy answer…Of course there are many factors and things to consider — is this his personality or has he had a bad experience trying new things… can you get him to talk through it or is this worth getting someone else to sit with him to uncover what might be going on… I am a believer in pushing our kids to do hard things, but there is also a time to pull back and give them time to feel ready. Again, I think the book will help, but I do wish you all the best!! Aloha and hugs!