Archives

Q: I want to build Christmas traditions with our kids, but my husband doesn't think it's a big deal. He finds it all too sentimental. What are your thoughts?... more

Q: My wife and I got married over the summer. Her family lives three hours away, and my family lives four hours away in the opposite direction. Both families want us to come home for Christmas, and we... more

Q: My daughter has a solo in the school Christmas program, but I'm afraid she's going to get sick and miss the performance due to the fact that half the kids in her class have colds. Would an immunity... more

Q: Our holiday budget looks grim this year. How can we enjoy the Christmas season without stressing about money?... more

Q: I really struggle to have a positive outlook and always seem to dwell on the negative aspects of life. Is there something I can do to help me be more positive about things?... more

Q: It's Thanksgiving, but I feel like my kids are anything but thankful. They have a staggering sense of entitlement. How can I combat this?... more

Q: We have three children, and we are looking for any advice you can give us on how we should do money allowances in our household.... more

Q: The TV is always on at our house! I like to do other activities with the kids, but I just can't pull everyone away from the TV. What is the appropriate amount of time to spend watching TV each day,... more

Q: How do I train my 2-year-old to clean up after herself? She'll go into her sisters' room and destroy it and won't help clean up unless I threaten to punish her. Then she only picks up a couple of t... more

Q: I often hear about the importance of boosting a child's self-esteem. But how can I accomplish that with my son without making him self-absorbed or self-centered?... more

Q: My daughter is in elementary school and is extremely shy. So shy that it is affecting her schoolwork and friendships. What can we do to bring her out of this shell?... more

Q: My teenage daughter was not asked to the homecoming dance, and she's heartbroken. How can I convince her that it's not the end of the world?... more

Q: I have just entered into a relationship with a man whom I really love and care for. I have one small but nagging concern about our relationship -- I'm 22 years old and he's almost 40. Is this a pro... more

Q: My husband and I have three kids from his previous marriage and two from mine. He favors his kids and he accuses me of favoring mine. We fight about it a lot. Please help!... more

Q: We recently discovered that our teenage son is using drugs. In fact, it looks like he's in the throes of a full-blown addiction. How can we help him?... more

Q: I've been dating the same guy for a year, and he's wonderful. We're not ready to get married yet, but we're talking about moving in together. My very traditional parents don't approve. What do you ... more

Q: I'm struggling with how to keep my kids motivated throughout the school year. In past years, I've felt like the cheerleader, constantly encouraging them to take school seriously. How can I make thi... more

Q: Our daughter starts kindergarten next week, and I'm worried about dropping her off at school that first day. She's very attached to us, and even a little clingy. We don't want to make a scene.... more

Q: I don't like the way my son and his wife are raising their kids. I don't want to interfere, but shouldn't I have a say in what's good for my own grandchildren?... more

Q: Our son wants to try out for the football team this year, but I'm concerned. He's only a freshman, and we have friends whose sons have sustained fairly serious injuries playing high school football... more

Q: This summer our teenager has been spending all of his time with friends, and as a result he's never available to take part in family activities. What should we do?... more

Q: Our daughter and her husband are struggling financially. We'd like to help them out, but we don't want to set an unhealthy precedent or violate the integrity of their marriage. How should we handle... more

Q: We're considering enrolling our daughter in preschool this fall, but we're not sure about the idea of consigning her to an institutional setting for hours every week. What do you recommend?... more

Q: My parents both passed away within the past year. My three siblings and I have always been pretty close, but losing our mom and dad has put a lot of stress on the relationships. I hate to say it, b... more

Q: I'm dating a man who is five years younger than I am. He's very mature and seems to have a grasp on where he's going in life. I believe he's more mature than some men in their 30s. I'm reluctant to... more

Q: My daughter listens to a lot of music, but we're constantly fighting over what's appropriate. I recently told her she can't download songs tagged as "explicit" or buy CDs with a parental advisory l... more

Q: We were overjoyed when our daughter was born, but since that time my wife has slipped into a pit of depression. She's uncommunicative and completely uninterested in romance. This is taking a toll o... more

Q: My husband works with a lot of women. I'm OK with this, but I don't like the fact that he texts them all the time, even in the evening. When I asked him about it, he said that I was being paranoid ... more