Dear Ilana and Jess: I am one of many who finds the holidays incredibly hard. We lost my mother-in-law last Thanksgiving, and my father six months ago. I am trying to be cheerful for the sake of my ki... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: Like the rest of us, I want the holidays to be relaxing. I find that they rarely are. We visit my in-laws every year, but my kids always seem to be bored. What can my wife and I d... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: We’re down to the wire with college applications and my daughter still hasn’t made any headway. They’re due within the next week or two, but she hasn’t even started. How do I get ... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: The dreaded day has finally come: My 16-year-old daughter, Haley, has had her first heartbreak. I know it’s a rite of passage, but it’s an ugly one. How do I help her heal? — Grac... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My 15-year-old daughter Charlotte can’t stop obsessing over what everyone else is doing. She is terrified of missing out and tries to be all places, at all times. She won’t let my... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My daughter Emily just turned 14, and she is constantly comparing herself to her peers. I expected that her self-esteem would take a hit as we entered the teenage years, but I did... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: How can I help my super stressed daughter? Lindsay is sixteen and, like most sixteen-year-olds, she’s incredibly busy. Between cross country, student body government, working part... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: It breaks my heart, but my wife and I simply can’t afford the clothes our kids want. We have two sons who are always after the newest, top-of-the-line, sneakers, and two daughters... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: I’m sure you’re tired of hearing this, but I need help getting my 13-year-old son, Tyler, off of video games. If he’s not at school, he’s in front of the computer, totally absorbe... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My husband and I attend back-to-school night faithfully every year, but I never leave with anything useful. I know it’s called back-to-school night, but I have to say, I think it’... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My daughter, Lauren, is 16 and has ADHD. Sometimes, it feels like she’s a walking contradiction. Most of the time she gets straight A’s, but she procrastinates until the last minu... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My son, Jake, has always struggled socially. He’s 13 and in the last few years, he’s never invited a friend over, and as far as I know, he’s not been invited anywhere, either. How... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My daughter, Kelsey, is in the 5th grade. I want her to be independent, but if I don’t make sure she does her homework, it won’t get done. How can I manage both? -- Angela... more

Dear Ilana and Jess: My daughters are both in middle school; one in 6th grade and one in 8th grade. They each get so much homework. The assignments pile up and we can never get ahead of it. How can I ... more