For Our Boys is a book of prose and prayers meant to shape the strength of our boys with kindness and the power of the Holy Spirit. The short essays and prayers were written during my pregnancy and the months of my son's first year as I was learning what I should really focus on as a mother -- as I discovered what was actually important to me.

There is no escaping the evidence around us that the world and its people are being inundated with literal man-made crises. That is NOT just a turn of phrase, I mean man, male, (unhealed) masculinity, and the systems of harm it creates and feeds. Receiving the news that I was about to become a mother was awesome, and at the same time overwhelming. Especially when I found out I would be mothering a son.

I had the usual concerns of protecting and providing for my child, but my first thought was how do I shape a KIND child. Essentially, I want to have a child who would be a person who would make the world a better place. Deep down, I suspect that is a wish of every mother. Yet in some ways, in 2015, I had unique questions: How could I prevent contributing to patriarchy and its harm? How could I protect him from the harm of it all, and make sure I fostered his sense of inclusivity and justice? How could I nurture and raise a co-conspirator despite his identity of privilege?

I knew that God was my best resource to help make this happen, so I began to pray. As I prayed, it was clear that my prayers could be the prayers of other mothers for their babies. “For Our Boys” is a collection of my prayers. It is written specifically for the mothers of boys, but all who love boys, and want the best for them can pray these prayers with me and for them.