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Family Q&A

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Parent Fears That Child May Be a Victim of Human Trafficking

What should we do if it turns out that our child has actually fallen under the control of criminals who market vulnerable teens to customers in the “sex trade?” Without going into details, I can tell you that we have good reason to believe our daughter has become a victim of human trafficking. As you …

sad teen girl sitting by window

Parenting a Pregnant Teen

How should we respond to our teenage daughter who doesn’t want to be part of our family after becoming pregnant?

skateboard teen boy with long hair

Parents Don’t Like Son’s Long Hair

Should we allow our son to have long hair? There’s constant conflict in our household over this issue. My husband and I constantly have to tell him to go and get his hair cut. If we didn’t, I think he’d let it grow down over his shoulders. He usually complies, but not without a lot …

girl in classroom raising her hand

Preparing Kids for Back to School

I can’t believe that the end of summer is already within sight! School will be starting again in a couple of weeks, and my children are dreading it. Is there anything I can do to help smooth the transition? What would you recommend?

child watching fish at aquarium window

Providing Enriching Childhood Experiences on a Tight Budget

How can I give my kids the chance to try different activities and programs when we don’t have much money? I’m a stay-at-home mom and my husband works hard to support our family, but we’re living on a shoestring budget. I don’t want my children to miss out on life-enriching opportunities.

mom son and dog by Christmas tree

Santa Claus and Other Christmas Traditions

What’s your perspective on the celebration of Christmas? How do you understand the meaning of the holiday, and what are your feelings about some of the more “fanciful” symbols and traditions, including Santa Claus, that have become such a big part of it?

Three siblings smiling

Spacing of Children

Are kids happier when they’re closer in age, or is it better to plan them farther apart? What are your thoughts on the spacing of children?

young boy karate

Teaching Kids to Stick With It

How do we keep our child from becoming a “quitter”? Several months ago our 5-year-old son asked to be enrolled in a Tae Kwon Do program. He’s enjoyed it and usually has a good time once he gets to class. But lately we’ve run into problems with him not wanting to go. We don’t want …

teen girl hiding under bedspread

Teenagers and Sleep

How important is it for adolescents to get enough sleep? And exactly how much is “enough”? My son is trying to convince me that he has enough energy to handle late nights. I tend to disagree. My feeling is that sleep is critical during the teen years, especially with all of the physical changes kids …

boy in carseat with pacifier

Toddler Attachment to Pacifier or Blanket

At what age do you think a child is too old for a pacifier? We’ve tried several times to take it away, but it’s like pulling teeth. I’ve also been wondering about my son’s attachment to his blanket. Is it a problem if we let him keep it? At this point the thing is nothing …

young couple holding hands

Understanding the Sexual Pressures Teens Are Facing

Why are so many teens making bad sexual choices? This worries me because I have teenage kids of my own and I’m anxious to help them avoid serious mistakes in this area. Can you help me get a better handle on teenage attitudes about sex?

dad holding two kids, kissing son's head

Why Sons Need Their Father’s Affection

Why do dads need to get involved with their sons on an emotional level? My father was a no-nonsense man who did not share much with me in the way of his feelings. He basically taught me how to work hard, be responsible and make my own way in life. My wife gets upset with …

mom and dad holding little girl's hand

How to Adopt Through the Foster Care System

Can you provide my spouse and me with any guidance or resource suggestions as we consider adopting a child through the foster care system?

woman standing hands raised to bright sky

Scriptural Basis for Defending Human Life

Where does the Bible speak about the “sanctity of human life”? I’ve noticed that the more widely a phrase or slogan gets thrown around, the fuzzier its meaning seems to become. This one is a good example. I’m forever hearing Christians talk about “the sanctity of human life” in church, on Christian radio and television, …

Older man and woman embracing by ocean

Aging and Sexual Intimacy in Marriage

How does the aging process affect a couple’s libido and love life? My spouse and I have already passed the age of retirement, and now we’re facing some health issues that I fear may have negative implications for our relationship in the bedroom. Is sexual fulfillment something that decreases as we get older?

woman head bowed in despair

Cohabiting Boyfriend Is Negligent and Abusive

Do you have any answers for someone who’s stuck in a destructive relationship? I just had a baby with my boyfriend of six years. We’ve always had problems, but things took a turn for the worse when we moved in together a year and a half ago. Our plan was to share rent and other …

man on cell and computer

Cybersex, Online Affairs, Adultery, and Divorce

In light of the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:27-30, how does a “virtual” affair differ in any significant way from a real-life affair? If it isn’t different, does my spouse’s involvement with cybersex give me grounds for divorce? I recently discovered that he’s been involved in an ongoing “relationship” via the Internet. He claims …

dad on computer kids nearby watching or on other devices

Encouraging Family Conversation

How important is it for family members to talk to one another on a regular basis? Communication has been an “issue” in our marriage for a long time, but recently I’ve noticed that the problem is spreading to the kids as well: it seems that none of us spend any time actually talking to each …

Boys looking out window

Future Stepchildren Oppose Remarriage

Should I go through with my plans to remarry even though my intended spouse’s children are against the marriage? As a matter of fact, they seem to hate me.

man watching as woman leaves with suitcase

How to Approach a Marital Separation

Can you provide some guidance on how to navigate a marital separation? Our marriage has been plagued by conflict and emotional pain for a long, long time. As a result, we’ve come to the conclusion – sadly and reluctantly – that we need to get away from each other for a while. I honestly don’t …