Q: What's wrong with marijuana? Personally, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be legalized.

Jim: Your viewpoint is gaining support, as evidenced by voter approval legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington. Public opinion aside, my concerns are rooted in the well-documented facts of what pot does to the person who uses it. These are just a few that have been highlighted by our Physicians Resource Council.

First, marijuana smoke is more irritating to the upper respiratory tract and contains 50 to 70 percent more cancer-provoking hydrocarbons than tobacco. Combine this with pot-smokers' tendency to inhale deeply and hold their breath while smoking, and it's easy to see why long-term marijuana users are at a high risk for chronic lung disease and for cancer of the upper respiratory tract and lungs.

Its impact on motor skills and intellectual functions is also detrimental. Frequent use can impair concentration, learning, memory and judgment -- conditions that can linger long after immediate effects of the drug have worn off. Long-term marijuana users are also known for developing a marked lack of motivation. Their personal goals and self-discipline literally go up in smoke. Other research has linked marijuana use with poor overall job performance.

Another concern is its addictive properties, which impair an individual's ability to make deep and meaningful attachments with people. This promotes isolation, which feeds the need to smoke pot, which strains more relationships, which causes increased conflict in marriage or with co-workers and friends.

Finally, pot can become a gateway drug for the user, creating pathways in the brain that invite experimentation with harder street drugs or prescription medications. Studies have shown that 90 percent of those currently using hard addictive drugs like heroin started with marijuana.

Given these facts and the damage that pot has done to people I love, there's simply no way I can support its legalization for recreational use.

Q: My husband refuses to trash old, ragged shirts. He wears them around the house and I can't stand it. So I "help" him out by making them quietly disappear. He usually doesn't notice, but recently he busted me and went looking for a particular faded relic that I'd just turned into a dust rag. Now I'm in the doghouse. Do you think what I did was really that bad?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: I've laughed with lots of couples whose wives have been baffled by their husbands' inability to part with weathered wearables. It's a mystery to them that defies reason. So you can take comfort in knowing that you're in the company of some good women, including Mrs. Smalley.

That said, while the phenomenon is humorous, and the result of your actions non-catastrophic (I assume your husband's not walking around topless), there's a sense in which a foundational building block of your marriage -- respect -- may need some repair. And that may be true for both of you.

For your husband's part, he may have some legitimate reasons for wanting to keep and wear these shirts (and as a guy, I'll vouch that there are some). Regardless of your assessment, it's his stuff and his feelings, and you need to respect that. On your end, you probably have valid reasons for being bothered by his wearing these shirts.

This is a great opportunity for listening to and learning about each other. The place to start is talking about it, and this incident provides a natural springboard. My recommendation: Begin the conversation with a heartfelt apology and a desire to hear his perspective, and you should be on your way to a reasonable compromise and a new understanding of each other.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

Q: What are some things I can do to make good memories for my kids and family?

Jim: Building memories as a family is important to create a sense of common identity and heritage. Accomplishing it, though, can be tough -- especially when the demands of the day-to-day grind leave you short on time and sapped of energy. Below are some simple ideas that have been successful memory builders for many families. Perhaps they'll work for yours.

-- Give the gift of time. Schedule one-on-one time with your kids. If you're running errands, take one of them along and talk and learn about what they find interesting. Make a special day of taking your child to work with you if your employer allows.

-- Make generous use of pen and paper. While your child is small and growing, journal thoughts, observations and events in their lives and give it to them when they're grown. Write letters to them for special occasions, when a milestone is reached, or when they've experienced success or disappointment. When your son or daughter is ready to leave the nest for college or another destination, write a special letter pronouncing your blessings and conveying your "release."

-- Plan vacations that center around the unique loves and interests of your clan. If funds or time are short, set up a tent and camp out in the backyard.

-- Make holidays special by starting new traditions or re-creating old ones.

-- On your child's 13th birthday, take the entire evening to celebrate the transition to adolescence. Consider commemorating the occasion with a meaningful gift.

But whatever you do, don't let the years pass without creating some memorable times that your children will cherish and perhaps pass on to their own kids someday. You'll be glad you did.

Q. We've agreed to let our 25-year-old daughter move back home with us. She's working a part-time job, but feels she needs to come back and "get her life together" before "moving on to the next step." We don't know what this means or how to navigate the process. Any advice?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: You're in good company. For many reasons, some understandable and others regrettable, the number of young adults living at home, or "boomerang kids," is at a record high. Whatever the circumstances, the goal for parents in this situation should be the same: to help their child realize emotional and material independence.

To start, it's important to honestly evaluate everyone's motives. Are you lonely? Needing someone who depends on you? Fearful of and avoiding the empty nest? Or do you want to encourage growth and maturity? Is your daughter a "perma-child," looking for someone to take care of her? Or is she striving to achieve goals that will lead to her independence?

Next, you'll want to discuss and agree on your terms. Some areas to cover are:

-- House Rules: If you don't approve of overnight guests, blaring stereos, profanity, drug use, etc., then clarify your standards up front.

-- Household Responsibilities: Some amount of rent should be required, even if it's below market. Making these payments will develop habits necessary for independence. The same is true for contributions in the form of chores.

-- Progress Indicators: Ongoing lodging privileges should be tied to evidence of moving forward. Is she searching for full-time work? Are school loans and debts being paid down? Is money being saved for future goals?

-- Length of Stay: A goal for finding her own place should be discussed and agreed on. The date needn't be set in stone, and can be re-evaluated based on circumstances and the progress being made.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.

Q: What's the best way for a stepparent to form strong bonds with a stepchild? I recently married a wonderful man. He's kind, but firm with my three children and plans to adopt them. Unfortunately, my preschool-age son has had a hard time warming up to him.

Jim: Having struggled as a young stepson myself, it's easy for me to view the situation through your preschooler's eyes. A new man has suddenly moved in, taking up a lot of his mother's time and attention, which once belonged to him. To make things worse, she's actually been seen kissing and hugging this guy -- yuck! And to top it all off, this man is now telling him what to do and punishing him when he misbehaves.

The problem can be even more challenging if there hasn't been consistency in setting limits with your kids. It's not uncommon for tired and busy single moms to be somewhat lenient with inappropriate behavior. If your new husband is a firm disciplinarian, your son probably isn't going to like it.

I'd encourage your husband to spend lots of special one-on-one time with your son. Sincere demonstrations of warmth and love are critical for your son right now. I'd also suggest that your husband go out of his way to praise your boy when he behaves well instead of simply punishing him when he acts up. In other words, he needs to make an intentional effort to "catch him being good."

At the same time, you may want to complement what he's doing by firming up your own disciplinary techniques. Don't put your husband in the position of having to play the "bad cop" all the time. Do what you can to take up some of the slack and give him a chance to appear in a more positive light.

Our counseling team would also be happy to offer further help. Please call them at 855-771-HELP (4357).

Q. My wife and I have been married just a few months, and already we're constantly arguing about chores. I'm the one who cares that the house is clean and orderly, and so I end up doing most of the work. What should I do?

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: You've stumbled on a challenge that blindsides most newlyweds, and often plagues seasoned married couples -- the division of household labor. It's common because partners usually have different definitions as to what constitutes "clean" and different assumptions as to who should do what based on their unique family backgrounds.

Your first order of business, then, is to talk all this through. Lay all your assumptions, expectations and personal preferences on the table. The goals for your discussion should be unity, understanding, a commitment to shared responsibility and a plan that is fair and equitable.

Next, make a comprehensive list of everything that needs to be done together. This includes the time requirement for each task. Then, each of you should go over the list individually and indicate which of these you think are your responsibilities. Afterward, share your lists and compare the results. Where you agree, fine. Where it's less clear, discuss which of you has a preference or is better equipped to take on that task.

Once everything's been assigned, it's important that you tally up the time requirement to make sure it's reasonably fair based on the overall demands on each of you. Keep in mind that this is a partnership and that you'll need to stay flexible and make occasional exceptions based on your family's changing circumstances and needs.

Finally, remember the rewards. Tackling chores together eases the burden, and a cooperative system will leave you with more time for togetherness and more leisure for individual activities.

Jim Daly is a husband and father, an author, and president of Focus on the Family and host of the Focus on the Family radio program. Catch up with him at www.jimdalyblog.com or at www.facebook.com/DalyFocus.