Q: My kids are old enough to have their own social media accounts, and I'm reluctantly ready to let them. But I'm still nervous about it. Do you have any advice?

Jim: We've all heard the stories. Someone posts an offensive comment to social media and gets fired. A young boy stumbles across explicit content online and begins to struggle with pornography. A teen girl is bullied on Facebook and Twitter. One foolish mistake on social media can haunt a person for years. All it takes is one insensitive tweet, a misinterpreted Instagram picture or an unguarded moment captured on Snapchat.

None of us wants to see our children in these situations. But we live in a media-driven world, and the internet is here to stay. If you talk openly with your kids and put common-sense safeguards in place, they can learn to navigate the web safely and responsibly.

First, teach your children the value of a good reputation. A classic Proverb says, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches" -- and that's especially true in this digital age. It takes hard work to earn the respect of others, and only one brief, foolish decision to lose it.

Also, stay involved in your child's internet use. As parents, we need to repeatedly talk with our children about online dangers and reaffirm their awareness of the ramifications of what they post online.

We should go beyond issuing warnings, though. Parents should set common-sense boundaries around online time. Begin talking at an early age about discernment. Consider installing filters that will block objectionable content. Finally, moms and dads need to know what social networks their kids are a part of. You might even want to require knowing their password, especially in the case of a younger teen.

You can find more practical advice on our website at FocusOnTheFamily.com/parenting/tech-support-for-parents.

Q: When should I tell my parents and siblings that my marriage is on the rocks? My wife and I have been struggling for a long time. We're seeing a counselor and we both want the relationship to work, but so far things aren't getting any better.

Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: Generally speaking, secrets are a bad thing, whereas confidentiality is good. When someone who needs to know something doesn't, that's keeping a secret. On the other hand, when the people who need to know do know, and the rest of the world doesn't, healthy confidentiality is being maintained. When everyone gets in on the action -- regardless of who they are -- that's gossip. And gossip isn't in anyone's best interest.

In that context, the general rule of thumb is to dispense information only on a need-to-know basis. If a physical change in your living arrangements is imminent, then immediate family members are going to have to know about it sooner or later, and it would be best if they got the word from you first.

This doesn't mean you have to share all the details with them. Discuss your deepest concerns only with people you trust implicitly and regard as thoroughly healthy and safe. Everybody needs a strong support system you can turn to in times of trouble. Ideally, we all want family in that network. The problem is that family members are often too emotionally involved, too biased and too invested to maintain a helpful and objective point of view.

If you believe that your family members have the capacity to listen compassionately, and you're convinced that their only motive in doing so would be to offer you good, solid, objective and disinterested advice, it might be worth your while to open your heart to them.

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.

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Q: Now that my kids are grown, I have more time on my hands and want to invest it in something else meaningful. Do you have any suggestions?

Jim: We often place great emphasis on the next generation: The children growing up today who will become the leaders of tomorrow. That's certainly very worthwhile, but what about the previous generation?

In many Western nations, the birth rate is declining while the elderly are the fastest-growing segment of the population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people 65 and over will double by 2050. By 2030, one in five Americans will be elderly.

Unfortunately, our culture prizes those who are young and beautiful. But there's great value in every human being, no matter their age.

Investing in the older generation is about more than spending time with your own parents and grandparents, although that's definitely important. Think about the thousands of men and women around us -- veterans, nursing home residents, shut-ins, etc. -- who are growing old alone. One survey of more than 16,000 care centers in the U.S. found that only 15 percent of the residents received visitors. Eighty-five percent didn't receive visits from anyone ... not friends, not family, not even a chaplain. We can do better. We must do better.

So I hope you'll consider investing a little time, energy and love in the elder generation. We can all gain a lot from their wisdom, experience and example. And they'll benefit from our love and appreciation.

Q: My ex-husband is a convicted felon serving a long prison sentence. How should I respond to my son's questions about his dad? He has some great role models in my father and my brothers, but I'm worried that he will somehow end up identifying with his father's example.

Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting and Youth: It makes sense for your son to have questions; he wants to get to know a part of his story that he does not know well. He's blessed to have a mom who loves him so much and is intentional about this situation.

Be honest when your boy asks questions about his dad. Explain that his father made some bad decisions in the past and is facing the consequences, which includes being in jail for a long time. Above all, make sure your son understands that his father is absent because of his own mistakes; kids often tend to assume the blame for any kind of brokenness in the family structure.

It's natural for your boy to be sad, even angry, about his father being in prison. But you should also help him grasp the point that resentment only hurts the person who nurtures it. So help him develop healthy ways to deal with these emotions (exercising, hobbies, talking to someone he trusts, etc.). You're in the best position to help your son build a plan for who he wants to become rather than defaulting to repeating his dad's mistakes.

Keep in mind that he may ask to write to or visit his father -- or Dad might want to initiate contact. Talk this through with a counselor. Some kids are in a good place emotionally to do this, but some aren't.

Meanwhile, it's encouraging to know that your son has been blessed with so many other positive male role models. As he grows, encourage these men to spend special one-on-one "guy" time with him. Their affirmation and attention will give your boy a deeper sense of how special and valuable he is.

If you'd like to discuss these ideas further with one of our staff counselors, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357).

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.

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Q: Do you have any suggestions for helping our kids learn how to handle money in practical ways?

Jim: I think there's a financial application that many of us overlook as parents: Paying for extracurricular activities. We all know they can take a big bite out of the family budget, but it's usually a sacrifice we're happy to make because we know the importance of those opportunities. Still, I wonder if we're doing our children a disservice by just handing over the cash.

Part of our job as parents is to instill a strong work ethic in our kids. It's never too early to guide children toward age-appropriate projects that nurture lifelong skills and have financial returns. After all, when kids learn the value of a dollar, they develop an appreciation for the effort that goes in to earning one. And if we choose to have our children cover at least part of the cost of sports, camps or lessons, they're more invested in the process -- and they'll probably get more out of the experience.

The best idea for a moneymaking project is one that fits your child's age, skill and temperament. Research ideas with your kids, and then encourage and support them along the way. Maybe it's making jewelry, offering computer services or walking dogs. It might even be running a lemonade stand by the curb. And if that doesn't work, don't be afraid to change course (that's Business 101). In the end, your children will reach some immediate goals while gaining a sense of accomplishment. But more importantly, you'll help them realize it's possible to find work they love -- and that has lasting effect.

Q: My marriage is struggling. I'm not really sure how we got to this point, but it seems like we spend most of our time fighting over who did what. I want to recapture the good relationship that we had once upon a time; do you have any advice?

Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries: Almost every marriage in crisis shares an identical problem. At least one member of the couple has a bad habit of blaming their own poor behavior on their spouse. In other words, a husband blames his wife for his affair; a wife blames her husband for her unhappiness. Or they blame one another for ... fill in the blank: Angry outbursts, critical attitudes, pornography or alcohol addictions -- the list goes on and on.

This all keeps a marriage stuck in conflict and at high risk for divorce. That's because casting blame is all about avoiding responsibility. If a problem is your fault, then you're the one who needs to change, not me. That attitude prevents couples from getting to the source of their issues and resolving them.

If you're stuck in the "blame game," there's only one way to turn things around. You must recognize and admit that your behavior is your own responsibility. After all, the only person you can change is yourself.

Now, I get it. Your spouse may have a knack for getting under your skin and provoking you. They may even be guilty of unhealthy and harmful behaviors. Still, when it comes down to it, how you respond is up to you. You can choose to meet your spouse's poor choices head-on with a healthy response of your own.

That takes humility. In some cases it might require "tough love" (perhaps even separating temporarily to work out your respective issues). But when couples acknowledge their own shortcomings and refuse to shift blame, even the most difficult conflict has a chance of getting resolved.

Our staff counselors can help; feel free to call them at 855-771-HELP (4357) or visit FocusOnTheFamily.com.

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.

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT SECURED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.