Show your sons they are heroes

The Little Ten-Year-Old Hero

At that time, Láďa actually gave me a sort of message about masculinity. I still remember those words, and they often move me. I don’t remember the exact text, but I’ll try to retell its meaning.

The family of the little hero, whom we’ll call Tomáš and who was around 10 years old at the time, consisted of Tomáš, his mom, and two younger sisters. His dad didn’t live with them, but they had Tomáš’s grandad at home, his mom’s father. Grandad tried his best and didn’t just play the role of a grandfather but also of a father. He balanced strictness with fairness, and when he said something, it was final. Granddad was Tomáš’s role model, even though he was sometimes a little scared of him—especially when he knew he had done something wrong and he would be punished accordingly.

Granddad’s special place was a leather armchair in the middle of the living room, which gave him a view of the whole house.

One day, Tomáš and his sisters were playing by the river behind their house. One of the sisters suddenly fell into the water and was immediately swept away by the current. Because of her young age, she couldn’t swim. But Tomáš didn’t hesitate and jumped in after her. He caught her and swam with her safely to the shore.

The next day, at Sunday lunch, grandad told Tomáš, “Today, you acted like a true man. You saved your sister, and for that, I’ll let you sit in my chair today.” There was surprise, and his mom was touched, but Tomáš hesitated a bit. Granddad noticed and encouraged him: “Go ahead, you deserve it. You’re the man of our family.” Tomáš gathered his courage and sat in the chair. That day, he was the man of the house. The hero.

Even the Smallest Things Deserve Praise

This story should be a lesson for all of us. Never take your own or others’ actions for granted. It's not always about saving a life. But let’s not overlook the little things, like helping an elderly person across the street, doing the shopping for a neighbor, or helping someone weaker. All of that counts and deserves to be acknowledged.

Your son should always know that you’re proud of him for every good thing he does. After all, what boosts a boy’s confidence more than recognition and praise from his own dad? And if you want to be a good role model, don’t forget to do the little things either.

For example, last week, my son Luky, helped organize a wheelchair rugby tournament with his classmates. You’d be surprised at how tough a sport it is, even for athletes with disabilities. The boys volunteered and helped out during their free time on a public holiday. They put others before their own time. And I’m proud of them.

But now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve properly praised Luky for it. I’ll make sure to tell him again at dinner tonight. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.