Laura Lee Groves celebrates all the reasons that boys --- for all their wild, crazy, messy, rambunctious ways --- are a wonderful blessing to parent. She does not gloss over the challenges, and her book is, in fact, full of excellent ideas for handling the challenges as they arise (and even for forestalling a few of them). But it is obvious throughout that she respects her sons as young men in the making, and that she loves them for who they are, despite the chaos that follows in their wake.

Biblically based and well-researched, "I'm Outnumbered" gives a Christian mom advice on topics from chores to communication, and from toddler tantrums to technology. There is even a special section specifically to encourage and help single mothers, and a separate word for fathers, addressing how they can help their wife in each stage of their sons' development. The recommended reading listed most of the usual Christian standbys, but also included a few less-common gems.

For mothers who want a better understanding of their sons, or for mothers who are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of testosterone running around their homes, this book provides information and encouragement that is easy to read and easy to implement. It includes much of the traditional Christian outlook, but takes the time to debunk a few of the more harmful or unpleasant myths about boys along the way. ( )

Practical suggestions on raising boys. It is well-researched and well-written, and Bible-based. I would have enjoyed more personal stories from her male-oriented household. ( )

Laura Lee Groves has created an engaging and insightful book for Christian mothers of boys. “I’m Outnumbered” is well-researched and integrates scripture with practical strategies for parenting. Groves also includes families with girls, and much of the information would be useful for any multi-child household. In general, a short and enjoyable guide for moms. ( )

Very insightful. Helps understand boys and the joys and hardships of raising them. ( )

This book was written especially for me. No, I'm not a mother of boys. I came from a family with two daughters and I bore two daughters in my own family. Now however, I have FOUR grandsons!

With such a history of women in my life, I had no idea that bringing up boys was so different from raising girls. Laura Lee Groves quickly set me straight in her book, "I'm Outnumbered!" This short, pithy book clearly presents the opportunities and hazzards in raising boys. It gives me ways to connect with my grandsons that were totally outside my experience.

As I read about Ms. Groves adventures, I couldn't help comparing my own mothering experiences and laughing heartily over the differences. If boy children are in your life, I recommend that you get a copy of "I'm Outnumbered!" for your own piece of mind.

Thank you, LibraryThing Early Reviewers program, for a free copy of the book. ( )

This book was an easy read. I didn't think the information was that amazing though, so I only gave it 3.5 stars. The mother raised 4 boys and shared some of her experiences with that. I enjoyed reading it (having 3 boys of my own) and will probably read some of the books she referenced as well.

She is a devout Christian and shared lots of scriptures...which was fine with me, but might bother some other readers. If you are looking for a book that addresses good moral values though, this would be a good read. ( )

I found the overly Christian focus of this book both distracting and beside the point - which was the raising of boys, especially in an all boy (except for mom!) household. There are some good solid pieces of advice in this book. For example: In communicating with the very young boy, get on the floor with your child (or at eye level) as you talk with him. Ask questions and give him a chance to respond. Provide a play telephone or play microphone to encourage his chatter. Ms. Groves provides ideas on maintaining each boy's individuality, teaching them leadership and teamwork. She encourages parental involvement in reading, television watching and in the use of technology. I don't feel her advice particularly strong in dealing just with boys, though - moms of girls AND boys will find useful ideas and methods in the book, if they are strongly grounded in the Christian faith, or if they can overlook that aspect of Groves' writing . ( )

This book has been a fun read for me--and one that has left me wanting more. Laura often quotes other books/authors, to the point that I wanted to read a number of the other books she had quoted. However, I did find it particularly helpful in that she doesn't just give vague "this is how you should do this," but rather, she cites specific examples of how to engage with my son(s) in ways that might not otherwise have occurred to me. I was frustrated a time or two with her references to see a different part of the book (she has a section for families with some girls, in addition to multiple boys, a section for single moms, a section where the reader gets to hear from the boys' perspectives, etc.)--it was as much a cliffhanger as anything, for me, as I try to read a book (particularly when I am due to review it ASAP!) from beginning to end with little or no jumping back and forth (I get sidetracked and never finish a book when I start that). Still, though, the book is thoughtfully written and well-organized; she gives hints for every stage in life, from the time they are babies and until they leave for college and beyond. Many of the suggestions will work well for ALL families (family dinners, being organized, everyone helps out, age-appropriate chores, etc.), but Laura also does a fantastic job of pointing out how we might sometimes relate differently to our daughters than we do our sons, thereby shortchanging them the opportunity to learn better communication and empathy. I have dog-eared numerous pages for further and frequent review, and will keep this one in a handy location! ( )

Having trouble coping with boy #1? How about boy #3? Having grown up in a family of 6 boys I found this title particularly interesting. While the book is written with moms of boys in mind, it was interesting to compare the author's advice to my own experience as a child in a family of all boys. She makes so many excellent points that I find it hard to pick out any one to highlight when it is matched by 20 more of equal importance. The one thing I appreciated the most was her emphasis on centering the home and the process on God's revealed wisdom, recognizing that success is achieved by building on a rock-solid foundation! ( )

I’m Outnumbered is well-researched and spiritually sound. Groves’ experience in raising four boys gives her an authoritative voice. As a mother myself, I found her advice to be wise and insightful. However, I had hoped that with a household of four sons, Groves would have shared more personal stories of humor. With the “lively art of raising boys” in the subtitle, I was expecting a livelier book. Instead it was kind of dry and a bit too didactic. Nevertheless, it is a useful resource with creative ideas for moms who find themselves “outnumbered.” ( )