Episode 134 :: David Thomas:: Stories of Raising Emotionally Strong Boys in an Anxious World
Today I am SO excited to share with you my conversation with David Thomas. David is an author, a speaker, and a counselor at Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN. In this conversation, David shares such incredible wisdom, and insight based on his experience as a father of three, and twenty-five years of walking with and working with kids that have come in and out of his office. In all of his work, including the incredible Raising Boys and Girls podcast that he co-hosts with fellow Daystar counselors Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan, and his books Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys : A Practical Guide to Understanding the Way, The Mind, The Heart of a Boy and his latest book Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build on for Life David shares his passion for boys to be seen for who they truly are from the inside out. These resources are also dedicated to equipping parents and other adults who have young kids in their lives to be able to practically connect with these young hearts and help navigate what they’re experiencing as they grow. He shares with us some of those insights and a flyover of the five stages of development we see through a boys life from birth until fully developed maturity in their early-mid twenties, and how we as the adults in their lives can meet them where they are all along the way as well as what challenges they may be facing as they grow.
If navigating raising kids wasn’t already a challenge, because it has always been a sanctifying experience, statistics that David and his partners at Daystar have found show that we are experiencing an epidemic of anxiety in children. So David is passionate about helping us adults think through how can we pivot and be proactive in the emotional lives of kids instead of reactive when we start to really see some signs that something is going on. David says “All behavior is communication,” so with that in mind he tries to peel back the layers and look underneath the behaviors to get to the heart of what’s really going on, and also taking into account the hard wiring of how boys in particular process emotion and anxiety in their bodies.
Also, please know this episode isn’t just for parents of boys, it has such helpful info for all kids of multiple ages, and its also not just for parents! There’s such good stuff here, and I cannot wait for you to hear it. No matter where you are in this journey, don’t forget that you matter, and your story matters, and the Lord will complete the work He has begun in you, and in the lives of the kids you love.
PS: If you need practical words of wisdom right this minute in regards to emotion regulation and the boys in your life, fast forward to 50 minutes in and listen to David explain the concept he calls “the space.” Its SO good, and has applications you can start thinking through with the young man in your life even today! Its such good stuff. Stay tuned for him to join me for an upcoming instagram live to unpack it even further!
Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty
Home buyer guide: http://bit.ly/buyersguidecrabtreehomes
Seller guide: http://bit.ly/sellerguidecrabtreehomes
Connecting with David and Daystar Counseling:
Daystar Counseling in Nashville (This is how you can reach out for a consult with David)
Raising Boys and Girls Podcast
References:
-Stephen James (co-author of Wild Things)
-Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build on for Life
-David and Sissy working through the stages of development on the Raising Boys & Girls Podcast began with this episode, and then the following 8 podcasts are dedicated to each stage of development for boys AND girls.
-Phil Herndon and Sage Hill Counseling (Phil was on the podcast in episode 50 )
-”The Heart of the Matter” by Don Henley
-Sissy’s workbook Braver, Stronger, Smarter
Scripture Reference:
Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in you
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Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com