Author: Rich Gorecki

As my wife and I were raising our three sons, we frequently encouraged them to “live above the influence.” This meant making good decisions, resisting peer pressure, and avoiding the temptations of risky behaviors. Especially during their teenage years, we prayed often they were making choices about substance and alcohol use, premarital sex, and bullying that could negatively impact them and others. Our hope was they would avoid acting like the immature males we see in society and portrayed in the media today. All three of our sons are now in their early 30s, gainfully employed, and either married or in a long-term relationship. Whether consciously or not, they have followed the Success Sequence that I wrote about in an earlier post. Not that my wife and I did parenting perfectly, but we do chuckle whenever any of them repeats one of our favorite sayings, “Have fun, be safe, and

Recently, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce tearfully announced his retirement from the NFL after an illustrious career. Jason and his brother Travis (who currently dates arguably the most powerful pop star on the planet, Taylor Swift) have been lauded for their refreshing brand of masculinity. As Danielle Campoamor writes in this post, the Kelce brothers display “a sensitivity and emotional intelligence that bucks the toxicity of traditional chauvinism” and “prioritize affection over coldness and vulnerability over stoicism.”  In my opinion, these brothers should be celebrated, not ridiculed. They show us we can live counter to the stunted version of the stereotypical alpha male. They challenge some of the patriarchal narratives and prove that not all men are bad or toxic. Jason’s accomplishments are many: 6x All-Pro, 7x Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champ, a top sports podcast, his own youth charity, his own documentary, his own line of apparel, 2 charity

Last week, I wrote about the Success Sequence, which is a series of certain life events to follow that helped 97% avoid poverty and therefore, enjoy a more successful adult life. I suggested that this sequence can reverse the negative effects of fatherlessness in our country and reduce the “toxic masculinity” that taints what it means to be a man today. This next post, titled “Rules for Raising Sons,” shows a father giving pieces of himself to his son. Presumably passing on the good parts (though bad fathers also pass on negative traits and behaviors as well), the post includes a list of rules that I believe also help every male become a better man. Are there other rules you might add to the list? Feel free to add them in the Comments below. Of course, there is probably a separate set of rules somewhere for teaching our daughters as