Do you have any advice for dealing with a teenage daughter who’s recently gotten involved in premarital sex and other destructive activities? While hunting for an extra set of car keys in my daughter’s purse I came across a condom and a cigarette lighter. Needless to say, I was devastated. Should I confront her about …
Family Q&A
How should I deal with the tension that has arisen between my child and his sports coach, who also happens to be his father? The season is starting up again, and I’m dreading the inevitable fights between them. My son doesn’t want to disappoint his dad, but he’s getting nothing out of this particular sport. …
Is there a way to put a stop to the constant state of conflict I’m in with my school age child? I’m spending a lot of time trying to promote harmony and maintain a little order in our home, but when I ask my son to pitch in, I get either passive indifference or outright …
How can I tell whether or not my child is actually addicted to video and computer games? He spends a lot of time gaming, but it’s hard to know whether it’s really that serious of a problem. Should I be concerned?
Is potty training a child always such a difficult and challenging experience? We’ve been trying to potty-train our son since he turned two years old. So far we haven’t had much success, and the stress level in our household is at an all-time high. After several months, we’re still not making any progress. Is this …
What exactly is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and what are its causes? Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk of losing my baby to this mysterious killer?
How can I help my grown-up son who is in an unhappy marriage after living with his wife for several years prior to the wedding? It’s a difficult and complicated situation, and lately he’s been talking about getting a divorce. Is there any way I can reach out to this young couple?
How can we help our two-year-old get used to the idea of having a new baby sister? He whines and cries for Mommy all the time, and lately he’s been misbehaving as a way of getting our attention. How can we help him feel loved and secure?
It’s frightening to be a parent of teenagers today. I’ve been lying awake nights worrying about the challenges and temptations my kids face every day at school, in our neighborhood, on the streets, and in all kinds of social situations. Even the church youth group isn’t immune to the influences of secular culture! Is there …
How can I get my adolescent son to see that it’s important to show appropriate regard for other people? He has developed what I consider a “smart-alecky” or “mouthy” way of responding to other members of the family. Last night, when I asked him to take out the trash, he said, “I’ll do it later, …
How can we be more intentional about doing things together that will strengthen relational bonds and family ties in the future? I know it’s important to make good memories, but it’s tough to find time for it with so much going on in day-to-day life. Do you have any suggestions or advice?
Is there any way we can limit or control the kind of music our teenager listens to? I could really use some help setting fair and reasonable standards in this area. I’m disturbed by some of the “artists” he likes, the image they project, and the lyrics of the songs they sing. What should I …
Should I feel uneasy about leaving my little one with a babysitter or dropping him off at the church nursery for an hour or so? I’m a new parent, and I don’t know if it’s healthy for my child to be separated from me, even for relatively short periods of time. What’s your perspective on …
Should I allow my teenage son to continue his involvement with the role-playing game “Dungeons and Dragons?” I don’t know a great deal about it, but I do know that it’s beginning to eat up more and more of his time, and that concerns me. Am I worrying too much?
Is there anything special we need to know about raising twins? We just became the proud parents of two precious children, and we’d like to get our family off on the right foot. Any advice or suggestions?
What are the theological and ethical implications of a woman carrying a preborn child for another woman? I’ve been thinking about doing this for an infertile couple I know. But I’m a Christian and want to be sure I consider any biblical issues about surrogacy.
Why are so many kids overweight these days? What can we do to help our child avoid obesity and develop healthy eating habits?
How should I respond to my son’s questions about his dad, a convicted felon who is serving a long prison sentence? We’re living with my parents until I can raise enough money to move out. He has some great role models in my father and my brothers, but I’m worried that he will somehow end …
At what age should I start discussing topics like abortion and homosexuality with my children? They’re still in elementary school, and I have no wish to violate their innocence any earlier than I have to. At the same time, I’m also aware that they’ve probably already encountered talk about these subjects. As I’m sure you …
As parents, how should we deal with a dismissive and smart-alecky adolescent? Our son says that we don’t treat him with respect, but from my perspective the shoe is actually on the other foot – his behavior towards us is extremely disrespectful. What can we do to resolve this conflict?