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Today, Sunday 14 May, is Mother’s Day but this coming, Tuesday 16 May, is International Boys’ Day.

What do these two days have in common?

#1. Without mothers, we would not have any boys to celebrate.

#2. The greatest defenders and promoters of boys are mothers.

For that we are grateful.

Take for example Kirralie Smith, 2023 Mother of the Year for Family Voice. Kirralie is the founder of ‘Binary‘ who believes boys are boys and girls are girls and need our full protection in these crazy times. Kirralie’s response to her award was endearing.

“I was blown away on Tuesday when Family Voice Australia announced I was the 2023 Mother of the Year!

What a great honour and privilege.

There is no role I value more than being a wife and mother.

Greg and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last month and our three children, along with our three foster children who are now all adults, are a true reward for us every day.

I acknowledge there are far more worthy mothers than I that this award could go to. I honour each and every mother who loves and sacrifices so much for her children.

I count it a special and serious privilege to advocate for women and children in this country. I am 100% committed to ensuring safeguarding for women, parental rights and child protection remain front and centre in national conversations about gender ideology in this country.

I am humbled and encouraged by this award and I am determined to never back down as I stand with you for truth, biological reality, sex-based rights and the protection of our children.”

Last week my wife, and mother of my five children, wrote her first headline article in our weekly newsletter in celebration of mothers and in defence of boys. She featured Australian parenting author Maggie Dent, who has four boys of her own. Maggie is commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’ and is an undisputed ‘boy champion’.

All I can say is thank God for mothers! Inspired by all the above mighty mothers who are passionate to support our boys we want to tell you about International Boys’ Day on Tuesday 16 May.

 

International Boys’ Day is a celebration of all the positive elements that boys bring to their families and communities, and a day to spend quality time with them doing fun activities. It also aims to bring awareness to the challenges that boys face as they grow up.

Current research shows that boys:

1. are worldwide 50 % more likely to fail meeting basic proficiency standards in reading than girls.
2. are 100% more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD compared to girls.
3. are more likely to be the victims of violent crime.
4. are severely behind girls in school grades. Boys take 70% of D’s and failed grades.
5. suicide rate is four times higher than girls.
6. are five times more likely to end up in juvenile detention.

International Boys’ Day founder Dr Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad in the Caribbean, who also founded International Men’s Day said:

“There is an urgent need to focus on the home and school as we save the boy child. If a boy child is neglected or fed a diet of hate and violence it is obvious, he will develop into a teenager who is misguided and confused. And the next crucial transition into manhood will be even more difficult.

Our goal is that every boy will grow up to become a man of honour and integrity and be able to contribute in a vital way to his family, his community and his nation and be able to make the world a better place for boys and girls everywhere.”

The team at Dads4Kids helped Jerome Teelucksingh set up the global International Boys’ Day website in 2018. Our intention is to inspire boys, families, communities and governments to engage and collaborate to address the issues our boys are facing. Positive male role models are critical for our boys’ successful development and wellbeing.

Why is Dads4Kids so passionate to help solve the boy crisis?

Dr Warren Farrell, author of the The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It, summed it up this way. “The boy crisis’ primary cause is dad-deprived boys. Dad deprivation stems primarily from a lack of father involvement, and secondarily from devaluing what a father contributes when he is involved.”

Lovework

This week we encourage individuals, families and communities to celebrate by wishing your boys happy International Boys’ Day on 16 May.

Maybe you could do something special around a family meal?

You could even celebrate by hosting some outdoor games and activities.

Boys love adventure. Whether it be a large or small celebration whatever you do, make it fun.

Yours for Our Boys

Warwick Marsh

PS: This week we officially open invitations to book for the upcoming Men’s Leadership Summit, 4–6 August at Stanwell Tops NSW. Keep a lookout in your email in-tray.

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Originally published at Dads4Kids.