Relationships & Marriage Q&As

Our grandson is being supported by his parents (our daughter and son-in-law) to “transition” to a girl. They say that if we don’t call him by his new female name, they’ll cut us out of their lives. We don’t know where this is coming from or what to do. How do we show them love …

How do I handle the family secret that just came to light? I feel like my whole life has been a lie.

I’m engaged, and my fiancé wants a prenup. But we’re both Christians – and we both believe that marriage should be permanent. (At least, I thought we did.) A prenuptial agreement feels like we’re opening the door to divorce. Am I missing something?

How do I decide whether to attend a family event? I didn’t come from a healthy family of origin, and I don’t always feel safe around my relatives. But I feel pressure to be at every get-together.

What’s your opinion of in vitro fertilization (IVF)? My wife and I have been trying to get pregnant for years. Our doctor suggested that we consider IVF, but friends have voiced some concerns about the procedure.

How can I encourage my wife to be more thoughtful about money? Our family has really struggled recently. I was laid off from my job two years ago and have finally found full-time employment. My wife worked a couple of part-time jobs, but we still have a lot of bills to pay. And no matter …

How do I deal with the reality of having lost all physical attraction for my severely overweight husband? I’ve tried to be encouraging and understanding. I’ve made healthy meals for us, offered to exercise with him, and listened empathetically to his frustrations for years, but he hasn’t shown interest in doing anything to change his …

Am I justified in being upset about my wife’s ongoing friendship with a former boyfriend? We’ve been married for three years, and they have maintained a close relationship the entire time. She refuses to cut it off even though she knows it’s hurtful to me. Am I being unreasonable?

Do you have resources for a military spouse who’s struggling desperately with feelings of loneliness? I honestly believe that loneliness is the source of most other issues military families experience: alcoholism, addiction, divorce, even suicide. I knew I’d be lonely during a deployment, but now I know it happens other times, too; for the past …

What’s the proper protocol for spouses when it comes to helping other people of the opposite sex with problems – especially problems of the marital variety? Sadly, my brother and his wife are in the process of divorcing. My sister-in-law called my husband the other night to see if he would meet with her to provide counseling …