Haupt - Knights in training: ten principles for raising honorable, courageous, and compassionate boys

As a father seeking to raise a son in an environment that seems at times hostile to the idea of manhood, I found Heathers book both challenging and refreshing! I pray that the ten principles espoused in this book would by Gods grace become normative for how we seek to raise our boys into men.

Matt Chandler, author, lead pastor of the Village Church, president of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network

I am so grateful to see a fresh perspective on an age-old quest: raising boys into men. Using the time-honored code of the knights, Heather reminds parents that not much has changed when it comes to raising the next generation of young men. Treat women with respect. Tell the truth. Be generous. Thanks, Heather! I needed that. We all need it.

Heidi St. John, author, speaker, creator of thebusymom.com

Chivalry does not have to die and civility does not have to be a lost art form, but the only way for these to make a comeback in society is to start in families and at home. Heather Haupt offers fascinating insight into the current state of boyhood and manhood, alongside a practical and fun guide for training our boys in the ways of courage, kindness, and honor. Im inspired to raise my three boys to be modern-day knights who will love God, respect and serve others, and leave this world a better place than they found it.

Erin Mohring, cofounder of the MOB Society and Raising Boys Ministries, writer at homewiththeboys.net

Heather Haupt has written a much-needed guide for raising boys into men... Chivalry is all but dead, but Haupts excellent book will tell parents how to bring it back to life!

John Rosemond, family psychologist, author of Parenting by the Book

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Copyright 2017 by Heather Haupt

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Ebook ISBN 9781524704100

Cover design: Jess Morphew

Cover photograph: Adriana Varela Photography / Getty Images

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For my three knights-in-the-making,
Alexander, Keegan, and Treyton

{KNIGHTS CODE OF CHIVALRY}

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Obey those in authority over you.

Stand against injustice and evil.

Defend the weak and protect them.

Respect the honor of women.

Refrain from wanton giving of offense.

Speak the truth at all times.

Be generous and willing to share.

Persevere and finish the task at hand.

Pursue excellence in all you do.

P ART 1

The Boy-Raising Adventure

C HAPTER 1

Charting a New Path

O NE DAY , long ago at the almost grown-up age of twelve, I made my way to the neighborhood candy shop. A group of boys was loafing around and throwing barbs at one another. They were calling each other every variation of body parts and functions that you could dream up and laughing at their own supposed cleverness. I knew what came next. Cringing inside, I picked up my pace. As I passed them, their banter paused momentarily before altering direction. I was now the target, and the teasing took on an overt sexual nature. Some of them teased, while others looked the other way, perhaps embarrassed. Two of them started to follow as I ducked into the safety of the candy shop. The kind old man who ran the shop would not tolerate that kind of talk in his store and told the boys to leave. With an apathetic shrug they wandered off in search of new diversions.

We see these kinds of boys everywherethe ones who are rude and crude, the ones who find entertainment in picking on others, the ones who, for all of their bravado, become speechless and weak when someone needs to stand up against the bully. The entitlement mentality is firmly entrenched, resulting in teens doing what they please and behaving like tantrum-throwing toddlers when someone stands in their way. They expect life to be handed to them on a silver platter while they sit back and enjoy themselves.

Boys are increasingly disengaged, turned off to all that matters. Many struggle in school, preferring the allure of video games, and fewer are going to and graduating from college. Instead of boys eager for independence, more young men choose to stay home now than ever before, relying on parental support far longer than their female counterparts. Within this modern state of boyhood, mediocrity and apathy are the growing marks of manhood.

Idealism to Fatalism

Most of us enter into parenthood with a sense of idealism. We hold a cute little baby and stare in wonder at his fresh skin, rosebud mouth, and perfect round ears. As his tiny fingers curl around ours, an unspoken resolve fills our heartto raise this little one well, to raise a child who will make a difference in this world.