Raising boys

I am the mother of three boys ages 14, 11 and 8 who I love deeply.  We are moving into this new phase of life where they are trying to break away from me, they are trying to learn to become men.  I have been thinking and praying a lot about this lately.  One of the reasons for that is that it seems like I am always bumping heads with the oldest.  This has got me thinking, as a mom how do I guide him into manhood.  His dad is huge in his life and I have no doubt will be the biggest influence going forward but yet I am not willing to be regulated to the back burner, to insignificance.

So where's my role, what do I do now?  I know that I don't have any great answers but I do know that prayer will be one of the most important things I need to be doing now.  So things I am praying for myself:  Wisdom, patience, the ability to let go and knowledge.  Things I am praying for him: Wisdom, patience, knowledge, his future wife, clarity of mind and a learning spirit.

It  seems to me that some times I have no clue what to do next with him but when I feel that way The Holy Ghost will often remind me that just loving him is the best thing I can do.