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Written by Online therapist Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst, Ph.D.

Nurturing Emotionally Healthy Boys, A Grandparent’s Role

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Nurturing Emotionally Healthy Boys, A Grandparent’s Role

Good to see you,

Are you a grandparent striving to raise emotionally healthy boys in a world that often discourages men from expressing their true feelings?

This week, I joined Laura Brazan on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity podcast to talk about breaking generational cycles, especially those that keep boys stuck in an “emotional desert.”

In our conversation, we explored:

  • Why emotional intelligence is essential for boys, and how grandparents can help

  • How outdated cultural myths shape how boys express (or suppress) emotions

  • Simple tools to start meaningful emotional conversations at home

  • How feeling vocabulary lists can build stronger emotional awareness

  • What it really takes to create emotionally safe spaces for all grandchildren

We also talked about my New York Times best-selling journal, Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change,and how it can support families navigating this journey.

If you’re looking for expert insight, real-life stories, and actionable steps to empower the next generation, this conversation is for you.

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Rooting for your growth,

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