It’s not at all uncommon for parents to talk with me about what they consider their parenting failures, moments when they’ve been bad parents. Don’t get me wrong here, some people really do make awful parents and some are actively harmful to their offspring. But these are the exception. I’ve said it before–parenting is one […]
“For about 4 years now, my parents have been divorced. 3 years ago, my father found a new girlfriend, however my 3 siblings and I only really found out about her a couple of years ago. At first, it was like any new girlfriend-of-the-father relationship. She seemed ‘cool’, was nice and not intrusive. However, as […]
Being the parent of a child isn’t the same thing as having an child who is an adult. The role shifts.The professionals and researchers tell us that parents are too involved these days, even coining the phrase “helicopter parent” for parents who hover over their children. There are lots of people to tell you how […]
“I’m a 16 year old and I have a lot of stress in my life. When I was six, an older boy molested me. I tried to fight back and get him to stop, but he told me he would tell my parents and they wouldn’t love me any more. I was ashamed. I tried […]
“I have been dating a guy for a year. My kids and I have been to every baseball game and basketball game to support his son. I have been to everything to support my friend. They have only been to one thing in support of my daughter. She has a pageant and my friend committed […]
“My divorced step-daughter and our grandson, who have been living with my wife and myself for six years, has recently become romantically involved with someong. She insists that she be allowed to have him sleep over in her bed. My wife and I are at odds over this. I am completely opposed to this. My […]
“My mother and I have been fighting more and more lately. We used to get along really well, but after my brother got married a couple of years ago, things went downhill. My mom went over the deep end with her mother (who she does not get along with) coming into town, and my father […]
“I was physically abused by my husband years ago to the point of barely surviving and my in-laws filed for custody of my 2 year-old daughter while I was in the hospital recovering. They won custody and took her away to another state. Because of her father’s abuse, I was told I couldn’t have her […]
My husband and I have been married for 8 of our 15 years together and recently, everything has spun so out of control that neither one of us knows each other anymore. The root of the problem is three years ago my husband cheated on me. I know I chose to stay in my marriage […]
“I need some advice about issues with by girlfriend’s children that are 16, 19 & 20 and her mother, who lives with us. I find that the children and mother-in-law are lazy and I am constantly having to clean up after them with many issues, such as towels left on counters, and mostly dishes. Many […]