Can Boys Be Doctors?

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by Eliana (bio)

When my oldest son was 4 or 5, he asked me a serious question.

“Can boys be doctors?”

It was a tender moment for this feminist mama. Eye doctor, principal, pediatrician, Primary teachers, dentist, Lego club director, librarian, classroom teacher. All women.

My boys are lucky to have a very involved father who loves spending time with them and loves them more than anything on earth. But we live far from extended family so uncles and grandpas are once a year phenomenon, if that.

I know that once my boys turn 12 they'll have some male leaders at church. We're not into sports—adults or kids—so no manly coaches can help me out. I'm not sure how else to get more male role models onto the scene.

I read a lot too much about raising boys: Boys Adrift, Raising Cain, Wild Things, among others (all of which I'd recommend whole-heartedly). Raising Modern Mormon Men, or men of any kind, is a job I take seriously. I know my sons (I don't have daughters) need more than dad and the quirky pop from Phineas and Ferb to set them on the path.

Any advice dear readers?