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Family Q&A

defiant girl who just broke her pencil

Disciplining the Strong-Willed Elementary Child

Do you have any advice for disciplining and training uncooperative school-age children? I hear a lot about dealing with strong-willed toddlers, but not so much about older kids. My child is now in the elementary grades and life in our household is still an ongoing battle. Can you help us?

Dad and teen son standing at fence. Son is talking, dad is listening and smiling.

Tips for Communicating With Teens: How to Connect When Emotions Run High

How can we build strong communication with our teen?

urns or metal jars

Cremation: A Biblical Perspective

Does the Bible have anything to say about cremation? My spouse and I have been discussing our final will and testament, including our personal preferences regarding funeral arrangements. I feel strongly that cremation is the best way to go, but my husband says that it’s a “pagan” practice. He claims that the Bible condemns it. …

Dead-end road with a sign cautioning you to turn left or right

Understanding the “Generational Curse” of Exodus 34:7

Is the “generational curse” real?

Smiling mom and daughter rub noses while son plays next to them.

Encouragement for Mothers Who Have to Work Outside the Home

Do you have any encouragement for moms who have no choice but to take a job outside the home?

person walking away from camera along pathway

How to Find a Residential Treatment Program for Your Child or Teen

How do we find a good residential treatment program for our teen?

a counselor and client talking

How to Find a Christian Counselor: Spiritual, Professional, and Practical Considerations

How do I find a good Christian counselor?

dark image of discouraged woman

Pedophilia in Marriage

I just discovered that my husband has been abusing our 6-year-old niece. What should I do?

Signs & Symptoms of an Eating Disorder

Some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.

unhappy little girl in field of grass

Child Wets Pants When Angry

What can we do about a child who urinates on herself when something upsets her? She’s well past the age of potty training, but she wets her pants every time she gets angry. We’ve been making her hand-wash her clothes when this happens, but so far the behavior hasn’t stopped. What can we do?

Tired and sad husband and wife embracing

Asking a Grown Child to Move Out of the House

How do I know when it’s time to ask my adult child to leave?

Dad and daughter posing in sunglasses

How Dads Teach Daughters About Modesty

How can fathers help their girls learn about modesty? I want my daughter to get a handle on this concept before she becomes a teen, but I feel awkward about raising this subject with her. I realize that as a dad I can either be a big asset to her in this area or embarrass …

edge of pink dress with fairy wand

Three-Year-Old Boy Plays Dress-Up With Sisters

Should I allow my three-year-old son to play dress-up with his older sisters? He not only enjoys putting on the same frilly dresses they wear, but the costume jewelry as well. This doesn’t seem like healthy behavior to me. What can I do to stop it?

teen lying on the couch

Dealing With Lazy Teenagers

How can I motivate my two lazy teenagers? They won’t help me around the house, and they consistently wait until the last minute to do their homework. As a single parent, I usually don’t have the energy to make them get down to work. Is there a way to break this negative pattern?

girl leaning over unhappy

Father-Daughter Conflict

How can I make peace between my husband and our teenage daughter? Every day when he picks her up from school he either starts a fight or delivers a lecture about how she’s not measuring up academically. Then she calls me, angry or in tears. Grades have always been a problem for our daughter, and …

Toddler crying on bed near parent's hand

“Night Terrors” and Satanic Strongholds

Could “night terrors” be demonic in origin? I have serious concerns about some of the advice your ministry and certain other Christian organizations are giving on this subject. We’ve confronted this problem in our family. Our son used to wake up screaming and go wandering through the house in the middle of the night. Experience …

teen girl behind glass words love hate sad

Parenting a Bipolar Teen

Do you have any advice for parents who are dealing with the challenge of raising a teenager who struggles with depression and bipolar disorder? We’ve tried everything we can think of to help our daughter, but so far our efforts haven’t had much of an impact. Can you offer us some hope?

two girls on sled in winter snow

Parents Concerned About Young Kids Interacting With Gay Neighbors

A lesbian couple with young children recently moved in a couple of houses down the block. Our kids have struck up a friendship with their kids, and I’m at a bit of a loss as to how to handle the situation. I want to teach my kids to be loving and accepting of the children. …

wide-eyed baby lying down

Baby Suddenly Afraid of Strangers

Can you explain why my infant daughter started screaming when my great-aunt dropped by last weekend and wanted to hold her? In the past she’s always had a ready smile for everyone, but on this occasion she simply went ballistic! What do you think has happened?

woman sitting on bed arms wrapped around knees upset sad

Pregnant Woman Is Afraid of Having Another Miscarriage

Is there anything I can do to improve my chances of carrying a baby to term after losing my first pregnancy? My doctor told me that about one in four pregnancies ends this way. But he didn’t run any tests to find out what went wrong, and I can’t bear the thought of having another …