THE THING
Here’s the Thing! Evolved societies protect the weakest amongst them. The weakest and most vulnerable in any society are our children. How children are treated when they are small will determine the type of adults they become, and how they treat their children and their elders. It’s a never-ending cycle.
Real Men understand the vulnerability, and in many cases, the helplessness of children. Real Men make sure that children are always safe and they spend most of their time making sure that no harm comes to them. It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Unfortunately, in a modern society with walls, gates and self-interest we seem to have moved to communities of isolation and non-communication.
Real Men, however, understand that it is their responsibility to look out for the safety and well-being of all children. Real Men would expect another man to protect his children in his absence, and he would know to do the same if the roles were reversed. Real Men protect children; they look after children and they teach children how to protect and look after themselves.
One of my main motivations for writing this MANual was how shockingly poor we as men are doing in this regard. It is disgusting – the amount of crime, manipulation, beatings, rapes and murders that are committed against children every day in this and in most countries. This shit has to stop and it starts and ends with Real Men. We can stop this and it all starts at home. It all starts in your home.
THE REWARD
Here’s another cliché: The children are our future. Not in any esoteric or Disneyland interpretation. Today’s children are literally the future of the world, and they will be making decisions on how you live as an old person, and how your grandchildren will be raised. Children who are raised to feel protected and safe are able to express themselves more freely. They become confident and feel loved and thereby spread confidence and love.
When you protect a child, you fulfil your role as a man.
When I wrote this, I thought – “why the hell would you even need a reward for protecting your children?” – this point is pointless.
THE HOW TO
- Make sure your home is safe, inside and out.
- Baby proof the house without becoming paranoid and going over the top.
- Never move into a house that does not have a lockable fence around a swimming pool. If you have children, grandchildren or any friends that have children – you must have protection against a drowning.
- In some cases, a fence may be impractical, so install a net or pool guard. Always remain alert when young people are around and be very, very vigilant. A kid came around to our house the other day, so I literally taped up every lock on every door leading out to the swimming pool. I warned the parent of the child, and I informed every adult in the house about the danger. It was a ‘pain-in-the-arse’ day, but the kid got home safely. If guests come to your home with small children, remind them that they must at all times be vigilant and watch their children. Elect an adult or a teenager for lifeguard duty the entire time of the party.
- In some poorer communities, toilets are “long drops”, these need to be secured, protected and locks need to be put in place that need adults to assist these children. The entire community should make donations to have all of these “toilets” sorted.
- Tuck your children into bed at night, every night if possible, making sure that they feel safe, because you are there.
- Feed your kids nutritional meals.
- Try not to use physical violence of any sort on your child. Violence begets violence. I am a great believer in refocusing, gentle tapping, firm admonishing, time-outs, and grounding, in order to protect children from themselves.
- Buy a book, research child discipline on the Internet and have a plan of action.
- Never leave your child in the care of anyone who you do not trust and who you have not completely checked out. This includes sleeping over at a friend, if you don’t know the parents – don’t take the risk. Most crimes committed against children are by people known to or who are family of the child. How scary is this fact?
- I could go on and on about all you can do, but basically when a child is born you become their personal bodyguard, protecting them from all outside dangers and themselves. It really does not stop.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
- What about disease?
Most diseases today have some type of inoculation or treatment. Make sure you tick all of the boxes after you have done thorough research. However, sometimes in life, in spite of all your efforts and vigilance, shit just happens! Manage it. Work it. Always just do the best that you can, that’s all anyone can ask.
WISDOM
“I am there waiting, watching and keeping to the shadows; but when you need me I’ll step out of the shadows and protect what’s mine.” – Unknown