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| Subject | Date Asked |
| tantrums | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: About a week ago my 13-year old daughter threw a tantrum in a store (there's really no other way of ... A: Let her have her tantrum....walk away from her and don't talk to her. Leave her where she is and if ... | |
| tantrums | 1/25/2012 |
| Q: About a week ago my 13-year old daughter threw a tantrum in a store (there's really no other way of ... A: First of all, nothing is normal about a 13 yr old girl. You may never have to spank her again. She ... | |
| social awkwardness | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: I want to know how I can help my son be accepted socially. He is 17 and very handsome. He plays one ... A: First of all this is not an uncommon issue and one that can have an easy solution but it depends ... | |
| RAISING TEENS | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: I got married to my husband almost 15 years ago and at the time my son from previous engagement was ... A: The simple answer is you need to start acting like a parent. Your kids have seen you stay in this ... | |
| 8 year old lying | 5/21/2011 |
| Q: My eight year old son is lying. I have tried everything to get him to stop. However, he does not lie ... A: After reading your entry my first thought was to recommend a stringent plan of positive ... | |
| 18 year old very difficult and disrespectful at home | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: We have an 18 year old son who is on the verge of graduating high school and has been accepted into ... A: My impression is that you have it under control. Your the only one who really knows what's right ... | |
| 18 year old very difficult and disrespectful at home | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: We have an 18 year old son who is on the verge of graduating high school and has been accepted into ... A: Your son has answered your concerns for you...He wants only your money. If your ok with that one ... | |
| What kind of punishment can I give my son who is 17 yrs old for not coming home on a given time he was told to come home? It is now 4 in the morning and I specifically asked him to be home at 1am | 4/10/2011 |
| Q: This is the second time he has done this. A: The only real punishment that can be exacted on a 17 year old is to take away privileges. if he has ... | |
| Teen Son | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: My son turned 15 three months ago. two months ago, his girlfriend, who only turned 15 one and a half ... A: When children have children the devastation of normalcy becomes very difficult to reacquire. Your ... | |
| Son shunned by long time friends | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old son living at home - unable to find work and is looking at going to College in ... A: I do apologize for any misunderstandings from my last post. It looks from what you written that ... | |
| Son shunned by long time friends | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a 20 year old son living at home - unable to find work and is looking at going to College in ... A: Perhaps this is a good chance for your son to realize that his friends have found that being and ... | |
| Is this normal or does my son need professional help? | 3/16/2011 |
| Q: I am the mother of a wonderful 5 year old boy. He is super intelligent and academically advanced ... A: it was by some one much older....I agree with your assessment of your personal issues with your son ... | |
| Is this normal or does my son need professional help? | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: I am the mother of a wonderful 5 year old boy. He is super intelligent and academically advanced ... A: From the perspective of one who was sexually abused as a child the effects can manifest themselves ... | |
| getting older | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: i am 10 years old and almost 11 in July and I have feeling like I want to tell my mom EVERYTHING ... A: Getting older can be very confusing, even beyond your age the process of aging creates fear and ... | |
| What is going on with this family? | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: There's this one family I got to know well through being friends with their son. My parents ... A: You need to understand that families have multiple dynamics in how they respond to each other. I ... | |
| Dillon age 12 | 12/25/2010 |
| Q: My son got into a fight after school the other day he said that the other kid was hitting him first ... A: the logic of current self defense laws are very confusing. It is my belief that you told your son ... | |
| daughter | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: Here is what we have so far for our daughter. Do you thinks it's too much or ok? She is on meds ... A: You've put a lot of thought into this and I think the decision now is up to your daughter. The only ... | |
| 20-year-old daughter | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: Our soon-to-be 21y.o. has returned from university after suffering from a severe bout of ... A: The fact that you mentioned "tough Love" as not an option indicates the need to do something drastic ... | |
| Dealing with my 17 year old niece with ADHD | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: My 17 year old niece Emily comes over a lot. I don't mind I love her to death. But how should I ... A: At 17 your niece is thinking herself as an adult and with that punishments are not effective. My ... | |
| Dealing with lying | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: We have started having a lot of trouble from my 17 year old son. Just seems like things just keep ... A: The first rule of dealing with kids is not to get angry! You can get mad, be disappointed, ashamed ... | |
| 14 year old daughter | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: My daughter, when caught doing something she shouldn't do,we ask her why she did it even though it ... A: the simple answer to the question is ...when your able and willing to act like an adult and pay your ... | |
| My 13 yr old Son Brian | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: My question is.....My son who is usually quiet and otherwise a good boy has begun dating a 13 yr old ... A: To start with let me let you know that I have a personal policy of never letting my children date ... | |
| how to handle my teenager | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: We have a 16-year-old boy recently diagnosed with depression. Over the past three years, his grades ... A: Beyond medication the only advise I can offer is to have your son get involved in service toward ... | |
| 23 yr old son working as male prostitute to fund his fiancee's wedding... | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: My 23-year-old son is in university, and lives with us at home (purely for financial reasons - he is ... A: The end never justifies the means and your son's actions are unconscionable, immoral and dangerous. ... | |
| 16 yr old son got woman pregnant | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: My 16 yr old son last night told me he'd got his girlfriend pregnant. She said to me she's pregnant ... A: There is nothing to do! Your son is acting like an adult and therefor must suffer the consequences ... | |
| 23 yr old son working as male prostitute to fund his fiancee's wedding... | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: My 23-year-old son is in university, and lives with us at home (purely for financial reasons - he is ... A: My first impression is to tell you to Stay out of your sons business. If you don't, you run the ... | |
| My son's crisp addiction is an issue... | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Recently when cleaning the family home, I was stunned by what I found in my 16-year-old son's room - ... A: Let him be. He will eventually move onto other things. As you stated, he is doing everything else ... | |
| How do I tell my 16 yr old son his dad is not his biological dad? | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: I'm 42, and divorced, with a 16-year-old son and 15-year-old son. I divorced my husband back in ... A: This issue as you explained is perhaps the most degrading issue I've dealt with. Please don't take ... | |
| Dealing with parents | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I need some advise i am in my 20's and i have been having issues with my parents they are completely ... A: Marcy, Let me start with the obvious. You are an ADULT. You can chose to do whatever you would ... | |
| my 17 year old son's education | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: my son is generally a good lad. He has never been in any trouble. He decided to go back to school ... A: This is a fairly easy question to answer, the hard part is carrying out what has to be done. Your ... | |
| Teen girls being bi curious | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a teen daughter who started out lying to me about her friendship with one of her school ... A: The seriousness of this situation may be out of your hands. At her age and her development her ... | |
| How can I help a grandchild get motivated. | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: As a child, my grandson Mike was the victim of two divorces. His birth mother walked out on him when ... A: There are only two ways to deal with this issue. The first you've already mentioned and one that ... | |
| Teen Sister | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: My 16 year old sister is stealing my parents valuables (mainly jewellery) then pawning them for ... A: Please excuse my bluntness but your parents are weak and that weakness will be the ultimate ... | |
| stepdaughters | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I had been divorced for 2 years when I met my husband. I have 3 children (now ages are 8, 9, 13). ... A: There are other experts on this site that may be able to offer a differing perspective. Keep in ... | |
| stepdaughters | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I had been divorced for 2 years when I met my husband. I have 3 children (now ages are 8, 9, 13). ... A: The truth of your situation is revealed in your last sentence. Is love enough? The simple answer ... | |
| 18 years son visitting his girfriend | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: What time to leave in evenings after my son is visiting his girlfriend home who is living with her ... A: To answer your question you need to understand what the word respect is. Respect is: the condition ... | |
| Behavior | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: in one of your responses you have mentioned that if parents want to control/punish teens ... A: As a parent our feeling for our children, often times regardless of who they are or what they have ... | |
| Skin Bleaching and control, | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I am a teacher dealing with young people. I write from Nigeria. Why do girls like bleaching their ... A: The best way to alter an individuals desire to change who they are is to help them to understand who ... | |
| 17 year old boy | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I have to boys one 14 and the other will be 17 year old next month. Both my wife and I ... A: This is a very easy question to answer the problem is in how hard it is to implement. Your son has ... | |
| Physical Abuse in an Eleven Year Old | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I have a friend of mine who will beat his child when he brings home bad grades from school. He feels ... A: You may not be able to convince your friend about this abhorrent behavior. If these beating are ... | |
| My teen is asking difficult questions. | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Violet is 13, and when she got back from school yesterday, she asked me why she doesn't have ... A: Katherine, You tell her the truth. You explain the events like you explained to me and then ... | |
| My Parents are way too Overprotective | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: My parents sent me to college with a maid to keep control over me. They say its because they love ... A: First of all, let me put this question into perspective....Your at college with a maid, your at ... | |
| My 12 year old son totally disrespectful | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: My 12 year old son is ADHD, on no medication and I don't know that it is relavant but he is so ... A: This is a very difficult question to answer. I often get asked what to do in cases like this and ... | |
| My son's rude behavior | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Richard, I have been at wits end with my son, he will be 14 in a few months and over the last 4 or 5 ... A: Amy, First of all you did nothing wrong. Your son's behavior is a result of something external. ... | |
| My fiance's trouble 18 year old brother moved in with us. very disrespectful | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: My fiance's younger 18 year old brother moved in with us. He is living in our living room and paying ... A: You need to listen to what I'm going to say.... First of all you need to ask yourself, is this the ... | |
| Housekeeping | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: On average what should a teenager who is working full time expect to pay his or her parents for ... A: That is a very difficult question to answer. There are a variety of opinions on this matter ranging ... | |
| Good Teen (16) boy, Bad Grades, Acts Depressed | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: I like your straight forward approach. I have a son 16 and daughter 11; they live with their ... A: Tony, This is indeed a difficult situation and one that will continue to degrade without ... | |
| Relocation of Teenage daughter | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: ......Right now, I'm totally at my limit with my 15 year old daughter. Recently, I went to court to ... A: This is a very difficult situation and one of the tragedies of divorce. Divorce in itself does not ... | |
| Teen with lying and stealing | 7/15/2009 |
| Q: My teenage son has a lying problem. He lies about the simplest things to major things. And today, he ... A: Many young men fall into this problem when they try to become something they are not. The lying is ... | |
| Stepparenting and Teenagers | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: ..I have a 15 year old step daughter, and we do clash. I realize I am not her mother, but her and ... A: Your assessment of the situation is right on. You have very little power in this relationship and ... | |
| moody 11 year old girl | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: My bright,intelligent,calm little girl,has recently turned into a moody,unloving child-she won't ... A: This is not uncommon but I would suggest a few things to help ease your daughter into her new life. ... | |
| step daughter/father | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: Wife and I going on 5 years marriage and I have 12 year old step daughter. She is suddenly getting ... A: I'm sure there a many things going on in this young girls life that contribute to this recent ... | |
| How to get along with my boyfriends teenagers | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: Please help, my boyfriend but broke it off because " I drove a wedge between him and his family". He ... A: The unfortunate part of your question is the inability of many to change, even when that change will ... | |
| Almost 18 yr old son and lack of responsibility | 6/10/2009 |
| Q: My son will be turning 18 at the end of this month. We have 3 other children, all girls. He and his ... A: There seems to be a bit more going on in the situation but let me get right to the question. I ... | |
| Disfunctional 13 yr old twin boys | 6/7/2009 |
| Q: 4 years ago my father died and this tragic loss which came without any warning acted as a catalyst ... A: While reading your question my first thoughts were on the many levels of difficulties and the ... | |
| Relationship between adopted child and mother | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: I have three grown sons from a previous marriage. We have one adopted daughter we waited 9 years to ... A: This is not an unusual situation. The fear that your wife feels over the loss of her daughter is ... | |
| 16 year old step daughter | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: My 16 year old step daughter, Amy, has basically been getting in trouble for the last 2 years. she ... A: I think that my previous assessment was correct. Despite the conditions and relationships the only ... | |
| my 16 year old Son is out of control | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: how can i be effective in my discipline of him? he has been out of control for a while,his dad threw ... A: I'm going to need more time to consider your question. In the interim, you may want to look at a ... | |
| Please help!! | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: I am a single mother of two boy's.My youngest is 5. I have been dealing with him peeking in on the ... A: This is not an abnormal activity but it could easily turn into a serious problem if not taken care ... | |
| 15-year-old has run away | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I got into a heated argument with my son yesterday afternoon. It started in the ... A: Even in the best of conditions, making all the right decisions parenthood is never easy. The number ... | |
| 15-year-old has run away | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I got into a heated argument with my son yesterday afternoon. It started in the ... A: With all that's been said and explained, I would have answered the question with less personal ... | |
| 15-year-old has run away | 5/23/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I got into a heated argument with my son yesterday afternoon. It started in the ... A: Please excuse my bluntness during this response. There are things I have observed however that ... | |
| 15 year old wants to move in with his girlfriend and her parents are encouraging it!! | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: My 15 year old son is in a very toxic sexual relationship which I do not condone at all)with a 15 ... A: I have to say that this question has forced me to pause and really consider the issues involved. ... | |
| My son had sex 13 Help | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: My son had sex 13 how do i handle this? I think he should not see her any more his mom thinks its ... A: Your initial response is a good one, separate the two and never let him see her again. The fact ... | |
| Uncooperative 16 yo son | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I just read a question almost identical to mine so apologies in advance for another one. The ... A: There is one other option that I thought might have some merit. There are court mandated schools ... | |
| Bad Parenting? | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I am a 17 year old twin, with a 22 year old sister who is rarely allowed to drive, despite having ... A: I really do feel like its time to confront your parents. You three of you need to first confront ... | |
| Bad Parenting? | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: I am a 17 year old twin, with a 22 year old sister who is rarely allowed to drive, despite having ... A: I do apologize, I did answer this question and I have to admit I did a great job last time, I hope I ... | |
| parenting | 4/1/2009 |
| Q: I am a mom of a 5 year old. My son has always asked a lot of questions just like other kids. But ... A: The stages of development vary greatly. The process of questioning comes and goes and may have ... | |
| Boyfriend's teenage son has no ambition and is lazy | 3/19/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can give me some advice on how to deal with my boyfriend's teenage son that lives with ... A: I'm going to be blunt and to the point. You may not like my answer but in my opinion it is the best ... | |
| What kind of person is Goldilocks | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: I'm curious to know more about goldilocks' after reading its story.Based on the goldilocks' & the 3 ... A: That question, or those questions are for you to ultimately answer. The reason for the topic that ... | |
| What kind of person is Goldilocks | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm curious to know more about goldilocks' after reading its story.Based on the goldilocks' & the 3 ... A: You could say that as a result of very neglectful parents, Goldilocks was left to her own devises. ... | |
| relationship with my 19 yr. old daughter | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I raised my foster daughter since age 6 along with her 5 year old brother. I am a single mom. My son ... A: The most difficult aspect of what your asking is achieving the goal you so desperately want, a ... | |
| 13 year old run away | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: My son is 13 years old will turn 14 in two weeks. Two nights ago he ran away from home. He was at ... A: Questioning him may not result in the truth, it would be better I think to simply talk to him about ... | |
| 13 year old run away | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: My son is 13 years old will turn 14 in two weeks. Two nights ago he ran away from home. He was at ... A: From what you have described the situation is not a dangerous one by any means, but falls into the ... | |
| 13 year old run away | 3/6/2009 |
| Q: My son is 13 years old will turn 14 in two weeks. Two nights ago he ran away from home. He was at ... A: This is a most troubling situation and one that will require a lot of thought and love. In order to ... | |
Answers by Expert:
Top Expert on this page
I can answer questions regarding parenting and child rearing.
I am the father of Ten children and have been married for over 29 years.
My wife and I have adopted two children and have successfully raised into adulthood four of our ten. We are Grandparents and have experience in that area as well.
Education/Credentials
I have a Masters in Special Education, with over 15 years in education and over 29 years as a successful parent.

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