Mother & Son: The Respect Effect couldn’t have come at a better time.  Finding myself at home all summer with a very independent, somewhat sassy 7 year old son has left me feeling a little less love and a lot more frustration.  It’s true that my son is my baby; I am guilty of kissing his sweet cheeks and ruffling his hair on endless occasions.  Also, I snuggle with him quite frequently.  But do I respect him?  That’s an action I hadn’t considered until opening this book. 

Our minister recently spoke about the different needs of husbands and wives.  He specifically brought up the point that husbands need to feel respected, while wives want to feel loved.  I agreed with his points, nodded my affirmation of his message, but never did I transfer his words to my son.  In short, I never thought about my son as being a husband — someday — who longs for respect.   Looking back, I see the error of my ways.  I wonder if my frustrations could turn to joy as I watch my son become a man.

Therefore, Mother & Son really hit home with me.  It’s a long book, and has many suggestions to follow, but what if I just tried a few this week?  Then a few next week?  I discovered many areas in which my actions and words have caused a situation to escalate, or a tantrum to hit the roof.  Normally I don’t write in books, but this one is dogeared and highlighted.  It brought a lot of insight into my relationships, and those that I can see from the outside.  This summer will really change starting now, because I now view my role as a mom differently.  I even found some strategies that I can use in the classroom, too.  Showing respect is never a bad thing, but it’s most needed with my son.

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