5 way to honour men in your life

Part of this year’s focus is on men and boys living the healthiest, happiest lives they can, accessing the services they need when they need. Of those who commit suicide worldwide, over two thirds are men. IMD, on 19 Nov, wants to help men and boys seek advice and support when they need it. Men also have a lower life expectancy than women, particularly in poor countries, so IMD aims to question this and enable men to live long, healthy lives. The other main focus is on male role models and celebrating the contribution men make to society. This is a great opportunity to discuss role models with your sons, and make sure they’re getting access to information about the kind of men they want to be.

IMD’s objectives are:

To promote male role models To celebrate the contribution that men make To focus on men’s health and wellbeing To highlight discrimination against men the inequalities that men and boys face To improve gender relations and promote gender equality To create a safer world for everyone

Here are our top five ways to celebrate International Men’s Day with the men and boys in your life:

1). Say thank you
All too often we forget to say thank you for the little things: the cup of tea, the washing up done, the kind words; and focus on the negative. Stereotypes of men as lazy and careless don’t help either, especially for young boys. Self-help guru Louise Hays reminds us to focus on what we do want, rather than what we don’t. By constantly nagging our partners about their failings, we create an environment in which we expect them to fail – and they do. Instead, say thank you, taking time to really notice everything they have done, and everything they are in your life. You’ll fall in love all over again just by being loving with one another.

2). Think about the special men in your life and get in touch
Been a long time since you called your dad? Have your children been asking about their uncles, grandfathers or godfathers? Make today an excuse to get in touch with the special men in your life, and encourage your kids to join in. Have fun crafting cards from cut out magazines, and make someone feel special. Or you could plan a visit today, making sure your kids get connective time with the men they love.

3). Let the men choose the day’s itinerary
It’s often busy mums who plan the family’s days out. As women tend to talk to other mothers, and are out and about in places where they find out about kids’ activities, they usually have an idea of where they might spend a special day out. Instead, let dads choose the day’s activities, and follow his lead for a completely different adventure. Of course, if it’s usually Dad who chooses what to do, give him a planning-free day by taking the reins. For single parents, let your son/s plan the day’s activities – you might find yourself loving a day’s paint-balling after all!

4). Pick a local/historical male role model and set out to find out more
This year’s International Men’s Day theme is male role models, so set out to discover your local hero. If you’re from Cardiff, you might want to learn more about Roald Dahl, who was born there. You could find out more about sporting hero Bradley Wiggins if you’re from London (he moved there when he was two from Belgium). Portsmouth folk could pick local engineering hero Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Go to your local library or museum and use the Internet to research. How about picking your top five male role models as a family and writing down some of their qualities (e.g. Nelson Mandela might be ‘strength’, Gandhi might be ‘kindness’) and then put them in a hat. Each member of the family picks one of the qualities and looks to find ways to embody them in everyday life. Then talk about your discoveries at the dinner table – was it easy to practise kindness when someone upset you? This is a great way to open up discussion about the kind of people we’d like to be.

5). Cook a meal/ bake a cake/ make a card
Get the kids involved in making the men and boys in your life feel special. Perhaps you’ll make a card together, bake a cake and decorate it, or cook his favourite meal. Make a point of creating a day of loving kindness, celebrating all of the male members of your family: fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles and sons.