Q: I've heard that your organization highlights the need for foster families, especially those willing to adopt. We're curious to learn more.

Jim: This issue hits home for me because I spent time in the foster system as a child. And my wife, Jean, and I have fostered several children. With planning -- and lots of prayer -- fostering can be a beautiful thing.

There are nearly 400,000 kids in foster care in the United States, and over 25% of them (more than 100,000) are eligible for adoption. The need for adoptive families is huge. But it's obviously a big step to take with a number of important things to consider.

Dr. Debi Grebenik is a licensed social worker and the executive director of a foster care and adoption agency. She emphasizes that the adoption journey is similar to a marriage -- it begins with a commitment for life. Adopting calls for love and understanding, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. That's because there WILL be unforeseen detours, mountaintop experiences, and valleys along the way. Adoptive parents who begin the process faithfully and fearlessly are more likely to see it through.

Furthermore, adoptive parents must be prepared to love their child unconditionally. Most kids have deep emotional wounds after spending years in foster care. Many of them can display defiance, aggression, manipulation, depression and other challenging behaviors.

BUT -- an adoptive parent's unconditional love might well be the only lifeline these children have as they emerge from an unstable environment. And they can truly thrive as they learn what it means to be part of a permanent, solid family for the first time in their lives. For those families willing to step forward, the blessings and rewards far outweigh the challenges.

To learn more about adoption, go to WaitNoMore.org or FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Q: I struggle with anxiety. How do I keep it from affecting my parenting and interactions with my family?

Dr. Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting & Youth: Anxiety is not easy to manage. It tends to spill into your day. I love this question because you're recognizing the negative impact anxiety inside you can have on others around you.

Stress -- which is a given as a parent -- can produce an even more anxious response to a life that already feels somewhat out of control. Anxiety can create a rigid and inflexible mindset that usually predicts the worst to avoid loss, pain or embarrassment.

Here are a few tips for developing a more flexible mindset:

-- Seek perspective from people who are less anxious than you. You want to help your mind consider other potential storylines.

-- Consider how growth and resilience could be built through failure, pain, imperfection and a freedom to explore and trust.

-- Explore your childrens' perspective. Avoid immediately saying "no" or becoming impatient while you're stressed. Ask the questions "What's it like to be with me?" and "What is my child's experience?"

-- Let go of some things. Perhaps you're trying to control almost everything -- that can feel absolutely overwhelming! Figure out what you need to control and what you need to loosen up to maintain your sanity. It's helpful to do this with a professional counselor or trusted friend.

Parenting is messy. Anxiety plus parenting can be even messier. But trying to be the perfect parent isn't the solution. Building a home founded on grace and gratitude can help transform the culture in your family. Remember, your kids aren't looking for you to be perfect. They want you to be present, interested in them, and effectively guiding them with grace and understanding.

For more information about how to help your family handle mental health issues, go to www.FocusOnParenting.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 jimdalyblog.focusonthefamily.com or at Facebook.com/JimDalyFocus.

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Q: This summer I want to prioritize spending more time together as a family. But with two working adults and three teens in the house, everybody seems to be on their own schedule. Do you have a suggestion for even just one thing we can do to stay close?

Jim: A counter-question comes immediately to mind: How often does your family have dinner together? I know it's challenging -- it always was in our house when my sons still lived at home -- but it's one of the best time investments you can make.

The statistics speak for themselves. The largest federally funded study of American teenagers found a strong link between regular family meals and positive behaviors like academic success, psychological health, and reduced rates of substance abuse and suicide. The University of Michigan found that mealtime is the single greatest predictor of better achievement -- more than studying, sports or other school activities. A Columbia University study found that teens who eat with their families at least five times a week are more likely to get better grades and less likely to get into substance abuse. And research conducted in Minnesota found that adolescent girls who ate with their families at least five times a week had greatly reduced risk for anorexia and bulimia.

I could quote studies all day, but I think we all know that it's just common sense. There's great benefit in sharing mealtimes together as a family whenever possible. And don't just sit at the same table. Make a point to put the digital devices aside and engage in the almost-lost art of interactive conversation. Involve everyone in meal prep and cleanup. Laugh and pray together. You'll be glad you did.

Q: I've been dating a guy for a while and we're seriously talking marriage. He has a few habits that mildly irritate me, but that's just normal, right? I think there's a lot of potential, especially since I'm sure marriage will change both of us.

Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Marriage & Family Formation: I give you credit for thinking about this now. One of the most common mistakes among engaged couples is marrying the person they hope their spouse will become instead of who they already are.

In the dating phase, we tend to overlook each other's bad habits. Maybe one spends too much money or is chronically late, while the other has a short temper or smokes. Whatever the issue, guys and gals are often so caught up in the euphoria of dating they make a common mistake: They ignore how they feel about their beloved's behavior. In almost every case, they think, "Once we get married, he or she will change all of that."

That's a dangerous game to play. It's very common for conflict between a new husband and wife to kick in over behaviors that were present all throughout the dating season.

So, before you get married, decide whether or not you can be content with your potential husband, even if he never changes a thing. After all, there are no guarantees your future spouse will change in the ways you hope he will. That goes both ways, from his side as well.

Naturally, the healthiest marriages are those where both husband and wife work to improve as individuals and to grow together. But that doesn't always happen as smoothly as we think it will. So before your wedding day, make sure you're marrying your spouse for who they are, not who you hope they'll become.

We have a wealth of tools and resources designed to help you prepare well for marriage and build a strong, vibrant relationship. Visit us at FocusOnTheFamily.com/Marriage.

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: My husband and I have "filet mignon tastes," although our current incomes are more on the "artisan hamburger" level. We both work full-time and are trying to pay off debt while looking for better jobs. It's exhausting -- do you have any ideas?

Jim: I think your scenario is pretty common. The money comes in, the money goes out, and for a lot of us there's not much left over when it's all said and done. It's a never-ending cycle that leaves many families wondering how to get ahead when they're barely keeping up.

Far too many people can only think of one solution to that problem: make more money. A little extra cash may ease some of our immediate stress, but it usually isn't a long-term solution for debt. That's because the more money we earn, the more we're likely to elevate our standard of living. But more stuff means more spending, and around it goes. It's little wonder that couples at all income levels -- even the wealthy -- often feel the squeeze of debt.

Ultimately, there's only one solution that works. That is to learn how to live on less than what we make, no matter our income level. Admittedly, that can require some tough choices that force us to dig deep, sacrifice and change long-ingrained habits. On one end of the financial scale, it may mean downsizing our home or selling a car. On the smaller end, maybe we choose to eat out fewer times or limit our entertainment choices.

Living within our means might not fill our lives with material luxury. But it will give us a different kind of luxury that's priceless: contentment and peace instead of stress.

We have many resources and tips to help you get a handle on finances -- and lifestyle -- at FocusOnTheFamily.com.

Q: My daughter is really looking forward to summer camp -- but is also very nervous about it. How can I help her?

Dr. Danny Huerta, Vice President, Parenting & Youth: It's common for kids to feel nervous when they're getting ready to go to camp, especially if it's their first time being away from home for an extended period of time. If your child reacts anxiously to life in general, it's understandable if she's nervous about going to camp.

Here are three things you can do to help your child as she considers going to camp this year.

Listen. Ask your daughter to share her fears. Write those things down and talk about them. This will help her feel heard and will keep you both on track as she overcomes her fears. You learn a lot about your kids' thoughts by having them talk about their fears.

Validate. You can boost your daughter's confidence by helping her make sense of how she is feeling. For example, you can say, "If you think you'll be lonely or left out, it makes perfect sense that you would feel nervous. Tell me WHY you think that might happen?" Validating helps her know she's heard, understood and not crazy.

Challenge. Provide your child with alternative thoughts. If she says, "What if no one likes me?" you can challenge that by saying, "That would be tough and would feel scary. BUT what if you make a new friend on this trip? I'm proud of you for challenging yourself. Let's plan on celebrating after the camp."

You also get to practice patience as you manage situations that seem scary to your child. As you patiently approach these moments with your daughter, you're strengthening the trust between you.

For more information about how to address new situations like camp, go to FocusOnParenting.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.