My son came home with a Pre-K report card; I read it and was thrilled. My husband read it and was baffled. I read it and anchored on the lines that really matter: “He excels quickly in all his math assignments and has mastered the math and reading concepts presented.” My husband focused on the extra full page on “social emotional growth” commentary and looked confused the whole time. “What does any of this mean?” “Nothing,” I said. “Ignore it.” And then that evening we explained to our son the lesson that is going to get him through his life: “People will put up with many things if you are excellent at math. You’re so good at math. We’re proud of you.” And that was that. There are many important posts going viral today about the tragedy of young men. Combatting the systems that seek to destroy their nature begins in the home, and it begins young. I don’t care about the “social emotional growth” of my sons because I know what values we’re instilling in them. Telling them what really matters begins with dad and mom. The family can be a reprieve from all the nonsense. It requires constant vigilance, but it’s the first step in preparing them for the madness outside.