Q: We're strongly considering adopting a baby boy from the foster-care system. He was removed from his birth home due to abuse when only a few months old. What do we need to know?... more
Q: My aged mother still lives independently in her own home, but it's becoming clear that my siblings and I are going to have to step in soon to help her handle her finances and other business matters... more
Q: My father treated me horribly when I was a child, so my relationship with him was strained and distant until the day he died. I never worked things out with him in person, and now I'm struggling wi... more
Q: After a difficult divorce, I remarried several years ago. At first my son got along OK with my new husband. But once my boy reached puberty, conflict flared into open hostility between them. I feel... more
Q: Christmas joy and good cheer, blah, blah, blah. I don't feel merry -- I usually just fake it because all of my holiday memories are bad ones. So how am I supposed to get in the "Christmas spirit"?... more
Q: Our first child is 8 months old. We hope to have one or two more kids. Approaching this first Christmas as parents has us wondering -- as our children grow older, do you think we should let them be... more
Q: My dear father passed away a few months ago. He was always the center of family gatherings, so as Christmas approaches we're all starting to deal with the fact that he won't be there. This is so mu... more
Q: We tried our best to be good parents, but our adult son has developed a talent for making poor decisions and behaving irresponsibly. He's deep in debt and may lose his job for lack of transportatio... more
Q: My in-laws like to host extravagant get-togethers with all the relatives; this year they're "going extra big" for the holidays because gatherings didn't happen last year. But these events are alway... more
Q: I'm in my mid-20s, but my mother seems unable or unwilling to acknowledge that I'm an adult. How can I help her understand I'm not a kid anymore?... more
Q: I have always wanted to father and raise my own children. I'm engaged now, but if my fiancée can't have kids, I'm not sure I want to pursue marrying her. Should I ask her to be tested for infertili... more
Q: Our two sons (ages 5 and 7) are sweet kids. However, they're constantly fighting over toys, which movie to watch and so on. How can I defuse this bickering behavior?... more
Q: Is it acceptable for parents to read our teenage daughter's journal, or go through her room, if we suspect she might be involved in some kind of unhealthy activity? And what if we do find evidence ... more
Q: As a first-time grandma, I'm excited to play an active and positive role in my grandchild's life. But I also want to be careful to respect appropriate boundaries with my son and daughter-in-law. Do... more