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QUESTION: What can I do about my son being afraid of men?
“How can I help my son not to be afraid of men? I am currently a 22-year-old single mom of a one-year-old and 34 weeks with my second child. However, the dad has no involvement whatsoever. I left him earlier this year because of his abuse and drug use. Because the father is absent, I have raised my son alone. He is attached to me at my hip. He hasn’t been around any man since his father, just women. Now, he is deathly afraid of men. He will cry, scream, and climb on me as fast as he can. Suggestions?”
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Community Answers
The following top answers have been selected by a moderator from hundreds of responses to the original question.
“Your boy is still a baby. I think all babies want to be around their mommas. Just give it time. For now, show him it’s okay and be his comfort. He’ll out grow it. Best of luck momma!”
“My daughter has gone through a phase of being scared of men and literally has no reason. When she was even younger she didn’t like women except for me and my mom. So I think it’s just sometimes one of those phases.”
“He is young but believe it or not, children remember witnessing abuse. I left my abusive ex when my oldest child was 1.5 years old and he was traumatized over the whole ordeal. Give him time to adjust. Talk to his pediatrician. Avoid dating for a while until he has calmed down and healed. Kids have feelings too and they should always come first.”
“He will get past it just don’t pressure him to. Console him and let him know that he is ok. My daughter was hospitalized several times and had surgery at 2 months old. From that point on she was terrified of everyone and anyone. She still is and stuck to me at two but is slowly getting better and slowly adjusts to new people.”
“Maybe try seeing a female therapist to help him work through his fear! The abuse he probably saw is most likely the cause and its best to start therapy early so he can cope with it better as he gets older as it will effect how he acts as an adult.”
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