Q: Last month your column discussed practicing self-denial with kids and offered ways to guard them from developing narcissistic tendencies. It was helpful advice, but I'd also like to encourage my ki... more
Q: We're traveling home for Christmas and this will be our 2-year-old daughter's first flight. I'm feeling stressed and anxious about it. Can you offer any advice?... more
Q: Every now and then I'll see these "man on the street" interviews on television where people's ignorance of history is on display -- and it discourages me that our culture doesn't seem to value its ... more
Question: I recently read that narcissistic behavior is on the rise, and this seems to confirm my own observations of a culture that seems to be increasingly selfish and entitled. I'm especially conce... more
Question: Thanksgiving is this week, and I'm having a hard time getting up for it. I'm usually a positive person, but all of life's difficulties decided to visit me this year. And the mess the world i... more
Q: How much do my children need to know about my past? Is there any reason to be completely open with them about the moral failings of my youth?... more
Q: I recently read an article suggesting another economic recession may be looming. What's the wisest way to handle my finances during a period of economic uncertainty?... more
Q: Should I marry my pregnant girlfriend? Our relationship has always been one of convenience, and neither of us considered it permanent. She intends to raise the baby, and I want to do my part. But m... more
Q: Last year while confronting cancer, I underwent a hysterectomy and had a breast removed. Since then, my husband has distanced himself emotionally and doesn't seem to care at all about sex. I'm deva... more
Q: We adopted our son at birth and have raised him in a loving home. Now that he's a teenager, he's obsessed with the fact that he's adopted. When he gets angry, he yells, "You aren't my real parents!... more
Q: Our teenage son is extremely intelligent. The problem is he only wants to play video games all day and night when he's home. It's a struggle to get him involved in any kind of physical activity or ... more
Q: I feel like I've "run my course" at work. I'm considering changing careers, but I'm already 45. Should I just ride it out in my current job and wait for retirement?... more
Q: Would you recommend adopting a child from another country or a different ethnic group? My spouse and I are seriously interested in helping a youngster who needs a home, but we're unsure about the p... more
Q: How should I respond to my child's fascination with evil characters? He's only 3 years old, but whenever he plays make-believe, he always takes on the role of the villain, and the only action figur... more
Q: My husband and I are newly married, and my in-laws are always making unannounced visits. We've subtly suggested that they call first, but so far nothing has changed. What should we do?... more
Q: The idea of "leadership" seems to be getting a lot of hype these days. Whether I'm at church, in a bookstore or at work, it seems the assertion that "everybody should strive to be a leader" is alwa... more
Q: Is it OK for married persons to have friends of the opposite sex? While my husband was away on a weeklong trip, I had a male friend from work come over to help me care for our 18-month-old daughter... more
Q: How can we get a break from the kids once in a while? Ever since they came along, we can't even find two minutes to sit down and have a meaningful conversation.... more
Q: After decades of looking forward to retirement, I find that the promised carefree lifestyle isn't quite what I expected. I worked hard to attain this goal, and now I'm struggling with discontentmen... more
Q: We just learned my spouse has cancer, and we're reeling. We have the best possible medical care, but there's one area where doctors can't help us: What can we do to keep the disease from harming ou... more
Q: Can you help us decide on a strategy for giving our child the best possible education? Our daughter is ready to start school, and we want to get her moving in the right direction.... more
Q: I recently discovered my preschooler playing "doctor" with a neighborhood friend. I've always thought this kind of thing was innocent and normal in very young kids, but when I found my own child in... more
Q: Should I ask my husband to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases? He recently ended an affair, and we're working toward reconciliation. It's a touchy process and I don't want to do anything ... more
Q: Our son and his wife both work and have extremely busy lives -- probably too busy. My husband and I frequently take care of our grandchildren so that their mom and dad can keep their hectic pace. W... more
Q: Should I step in to help if I feel my son-in-law isn't caring properly for my daughter and grandchildren? He constantly neglects to put oil in their car -- which leaks like a sieve -- so I do it. B... more
Q: Should I ask my fiancee to be tested for infertility before we're married? I've always wanted my own kids and I'm determined to be intentional about that. If I can't do this with my fiancee, I'm no... more
Q: Do you think it's OK for a 14-year-old boy to sleep in the same bed with his 11-year-old sister on a family vacation? Our family of four will be sharing a single room with two queen-sized beds, and... more
Q. How should we handle the discovery that our teenager has been sexually active for the past several months? We're not happy about it, but we want to deal with the problem without alienating our chil... more