Sleuth Detectives~Making Memories With Our Sons

In our series called "Making Memories With Our Sons", it is important to create opportunities and participate in manly activities as a family. This encourages development of masculine sons with the same fervant support of femininity for daughters. Boys love detective type play and we thought it would be great fun to take our son to a "Sleuth Dinner Show". We want our son to enjoy being a boy and though he loves the lessons learned by Mr. Knightly and Mr. Roger Hamley of Jane Austin's Era, he equally enjoys rolling up his sleeves and digging deeper in other wholesome genre's too. This is part of being a balanced boy and I love supporting anything that makes him all he is to be as a complete man.

In addition, we love his cowboy hats, roughing it in the mountains in his Daniel Boone getup and anything outdoorsy.

The "Art of Play" makes the man

How we direct our boys needs to be well thought out and carefully considered. First and foremost is to teach our sons to love God's word, hiding scripture deep within their hearts and embrace the principles that will bless their lives and future families. One concern I have had regarding the training of ones son, is how many young men learn their academia but miss the important aspect that brings a boy into full manhood. If we look to scripture we see the "David's" and "Solomon's" of the bible were not just sitting with tablets in hand. These were boys who loved God and spent time in the fields learning what real manhood was all about. They were strong, ruddy young men with qualities of balance both internally and externally. Look at your boys, see if they need to get out into the fresh air for some body building, tree climbing and tree felling skills. Mothers, ask yourself if your sons are being developed in equal proportion with their mind, body and spirit?

If sons grow up with only computers, television and couch potato training, they will never understand the world of a well balanced man. They need to get out, work in wholesome masculine building skills and develop creative problem solving abilities. I believe it was the famous Captain Cook who said he learned all he needed to know in leading men in battles by what he played in his own back yard.

This particular video was from a recent trip down South. Our son has been studying logic in his home-education and this game really made it fun for him. As we travel, we want our son to experience what he is reading and have a hands on education. We took a cross country train trip and the practical, experiential knowledge our son gained was invaluable. This particular evening was a pure delight as we played a deductive reasoning "Live Clue Game". For those of you who enjoy board games, this was great fun figuring out "Who done it!".

All the characters came to life and our son was asked to play a cameo role in the entertainment. This was his first acting debut with his new friend Jordan from Texas. These two had a wonderful time together on stage and their gypsy presence enthralled the audience. These two young men threw us off kilter as we tried to figure out the suspects. Samuel and Jordan were the

"Sleuth Detectives!"

Highland Tea-"Making Memories With Our Sons"

In my ongoing series, "Making Memories With Our Sons", I wanted to include a very important aspect of training these valiant lads. Boys need to become strong, godly, masculine men and yet there is often a missing element in their education. A son’s training needs to include but is not limited to the teaching of godliness, masculinity, outdoor skills, "how to" be protectors, providers and leaders in all aspects of life. These are valuable qualities indeed which can take on many forms to implement. There is one element of education that is often overlooked which is greatly needed for the fully trained young man.

It is that of being a real “Gentleman”

We educators need to help our sons establish manners, deference for women and children first, handling themselves in various settings with grace, decorum, especially in environments which call for excellence. This teaching must include the careful provisions for males by encouraging them to rise up to their calling as men.

Every time I visit my good friends on the coast, we have a special "High Tea" together. I mentioned the importance of sons learning this art, including manners and how to handle themselves on such occasions to my good friend Lady Lydia. While speaking together, the wheels of inspiration took off again. That is God’s gift of our friendship. We have such a creative, collaboration of ideas and our families work very well together which makes it a sheer joy every time we meet.

Our friends the Sherman’s and Humphrey’s decided to hold a Scottish Highland High Tea for our young masters, which our families joined together for a day of hearty, happy celebration. This was a carefully thought out time in which our sons were trained in the art of “Highland Traditions” and the “Men of Old”. Our theme transported us back in time to the hearty men who spent their days up in the Highlands with great physical exertion searching for game and daily labor. They came down exhausted and famished, to a hearty tea which was a heavy meal of meats including many delights that refreshed these brawny men, strengthening their ruddy constitutions.

Our boys were given special names of honor for the occasion and learned about the history of these amazing men. The tea was a delightful feast and we all partook in the bounty.

With Trumphets and Fanfare

~Announcing~

Samuel Duke of S.P., Sir Isaac Earl of J. C., Sir John Paul and Sir Joseph of the Clan of Humphrey

Samuel Duke of S.P. sends a very special "Thank You" to Mrs. Humphrey for your creative inspiration and Mrs. Sherman for your excellence in taste of our Highland High Tea.

Afterwards these boonfellows put on their gear and played their outdoor games!



What a joy and delight to raise sons who can roll up their sleeves, get dirty and also become great gentlemen all in the same day!