Family Matters

Child is overly cautious

Should we be concerned about a child who doesn't like to take risks? My husband thinks he should be pushed harder and forced to face his fears. I feel we should give him time to develop confidence at his own pace. What's your perspective?

16 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Narcissism personality patterns and concerns

What exactly is a "narcissist"? I've always assumed this is just a popular way of describing an extremely egotistical person, but lately I've heard the word used as if it were some sort of technical term – as if someone could actually be diagnosed with "narcissism." I have a personal…

15 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Rekindling a marriage as empty nesters

Now that our kids are gone, what can we do to revitalize our relationship? I thought our marriage was healthy and vibrant – that is, until the last of our three children left home. I realize now that it was the kids who brought life into the house, and that…

14 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

How can a woman be made in the image of a male God?

How is it possible for both men and women to be made in the Divine Image when the Bible speaks of God primarily in masculine terms? I'm wondering if all the talk I've been hearing about the biblical basis for equality between the sexes is just an attempt on the…

13 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Evangelizing millennials

What is the best way to communicate the Gospel message to the "millennial" generation? Our church has committed itself to reaching out to this group, but I'm concerned about what I perceive as a tendency to "broaden" the Gospel's appeal to twenty-somethings by watering it down and removing all references…

12 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

How to avoid spoiling your child

How can my husband and I make sure that we don't overindulge our cute little girl? She has a wonderful sweet personality and everyone in the family has been doting on her since she was born. But now that she's four years old, I'm wondering if she'll ever grow out…

9 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Adolescent thinks his parents don’t respect him

How should a teenager respond when his mom and dad seem to have the attitude that he's always trying to get away with something? I've had it with my parents! I'm not a bad kid, but they don't respect me at all. I can't do anything or go anywhere without…

8 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Maximizing enjoyment of family meals

How can we get the most out of our family dinner times? Our family recently committed to sharing mealtimes together at least three times a week. It was an adjustment in the beginning. There were a lot of rough spots, but I'm pleased to say that we're already seeing some…

7 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Feminine preferences and male sexual identity

As a guy do you think it means I'm gay because I've always had a preference and appreciation for feminine and "girly" things? I've been this way since I was a small boy, I'm not sure what to make of this.

6 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

developing healthy self-esteem in children

What are some things I can do to help develop a healthy self-image in my children? I don't want them to grow up thinking the world revolves around them, but I do want to instill in them a proper sense of self-respect and of their own value as persons. How…

5 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Co-parenting with an uncooperative ex-spouse

How do I handle conflicts with my ex-spouse over different parenting styles? Our divorce settlement stipulated that we would share responsibility for the children. The arrangement sounded fine on paper, but it's a disaster in practice. I'm a firm believer in structure and discipline. Unfortunately, that goes out the window…

2 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

child seems to sleep too much

Should I be concerned about my six-year-old sleeping too much? She does not want to wake up in the morning, even though she goes to bed early and sleeps through the night? Is this normal? Do you have any suggestions?

1 Jan 2020 5PM 4 min

Child or teen disturbed by exposure to pornography

Should I go back to my dad's house after seeing some pictures of naked women in "dirty" magazines that he left lying around the living room? This experience was very upsetting to me. My parents are divorced, but I have a close relationship with my father and spend every other…

31 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Suspicions of babysitter abuse

How can we tell if a babysitter has acted inappropriately with our kids? It's painful even to think about this, but we have reasons for suspecting that our babysitter may have abused our young child. What would you suggest we do in such a case? Are there "red flags" or…

30 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

shy and introverted adolescent

What should I do if I fear my teenage son may be too withdrawn? When he was younger we thought it was just a phase and assumed he would gain more confidence as he matured and interacted more with his peers. So far those expectations haven't panned out. He doesn't…

29 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Maintaining relationships with children after divorce

Now that I'm divorced, how can I stay involved with my kids? One of the most difficult outcomes of the settlement is that it limits my contact with them. Legally, I'm only allowed to have them a few days out of each month. I'd like to be more involved, but…

26 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Father to be anxious about cost and responsibility

How do we prepare for and manage the expenses that come with having a baby? My wife and I were ecstatic when we discovered we were pregnant, but now reality has set in. I’m feeling very anxious about the challenge of supporting and caring for a child. Can you help?

25 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Friend requests from old flames on social media

Should I accept a Facebook "friend" request from a former boyfriend? He has indicated an interest in connecting with me via social media. I'm very much in love with and committed to my husband, so I feel sure that this will not pose a threat to our marriage relationship. What…

24 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Developing effective communications patterns with kids

How can we teach our children good listening skills? They seem to have trouble paying attention to instructions and following directions. In my daughter's case, I think she's just defiant most of the time. As for my son, he's very intense and tends to get so locked into television, a…

23 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min

Wife no longer attracted to overweight husband

How do I deal with the reality of having lost all physical attraction for my severely overweight husband? I've tried to be encouraging and understanding. I've made healthy meals for us, offered to exercise with him, and listened empathetically to his frustrations for years, but he hasn't shown interest in…

22 Dec 2019 5PM 4 min