Ep.138 How to Raise Boys of Character: Faith, Discipline & Real Talk with Monica Swanson

Send us Fan Mail How do you raise boys with strong character, genuine faith, confidence, and a healthy sense of identity? In this episode, Monica shares lessons from raising four boys and opens up about the joys, challenges, and unexpected moments of parenting sons. Inspired by her book Boy Mom, she shares practical wisdom for parents who want to raise children who know who they are, respect authority, develop strong character, and build a lasting faith. We explore parenting boys, raising sons, faith-based parenting, character development, identity, teenage years, prayer, social media, and meaningful conversations with children. Monica explains why parents—not just friends—must be willing to lead, why setting high standards can strengthen a child's character, and how humor and authority can work together in a healthy parent-child relationship. We also dive into the spiritual side of parenting: how to help children develop genuine faith, why parents must model their beliefs authentically, how prayer can become a natural part of family life, and what to do when teenagers begin to experience spiritual drift. You'll also hear about the importance of: - Creating intentional family rhythms - Making dinner-table conversations meaningful - Having deeper conversations during the teenage years - Protecting children from unhealthy influences - Helping children develop a strong sense of identity - Including fathers in conversations about parenting and faith - Modeling the faith and character we want our children to develop - Making difficult parenting decisions when necessary - Remembering that it's never too late to start over Whether you're a boy mom, boy dad, parent of teenagers, Christian parent, or simply trying to become a more intentional parent, this conversation offers encouragement, practical wisdom, and a reminder that the way we live may be one of the most powerful lessons our children ever receive. Timestamps 00:00 — How Do You Raise Boys With Strong Character? 02:48 — Monica’s Journey to Writing Boy Mom 06:01 — The Boy Mom Manifesto: A Guide to Raising Sons 09:00 — How Do You Balance Humor, Authority, and Parenting? 11:56 — Helping Boys Discover Their God-Given Potential 14:58 — Why Is Identity So Important for Boys? 17:59 — What Can Parents Learn About Raising Daughters? 20:59 — How Can Parents Have More Meaningful Conversations With Kids? 23:18 — How Do You Build Genuine Faith in Your Children? 29:49 — Why Is Prayer So Important in Parenting? 32:48 — How Can Parents Recognize and Address Spiritual Drift in Teens? 37:12 — Why Fathers Matter in Raising Children With Faith and Character 40:37 — How Intentional Family Rhythms Shape Character and Faith Resources View the interview at MomQ Youtube channel  Discover more of Monica Swanson Here! Get Monica's Books: Boy Mom and Raising Amazing Interested in Leading a MomQ group, Learn more Support the show Discover more about MomQ