The boys were not ready that day for such heady thinking. I couldn’t blame them. It is no easy matter to think through the influences that shape your children’s lives. They are being shaped and molded by life’s circumstances. All the aspects of family living have a profound impact on the persons your children become. In this chapter, I will present a chart to help you understand the shaping influences of childhood. While the term “shaping influences” may be a new one, what it signifies