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Family Q&A

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?

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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?

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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.

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 …

boy and girl walking

Child Is Afraid of Being Alone

How should we handle our eight-year-old son’s strong aversion to being by himself? He sleeps in the same room with his younger sister because he doesn’t want to be alone. He won’t play in his room or in the basement unless someone else is there. The last time he tried, he suffered a panic attack …

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?

sad couple woman leaning on man's shoulder on bench

Coping With Infertility

Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for couples who are having difficulty conceiving a child? My spouse and I are both in our mid-thirties. We waited to have children until our careers were established. We’ve been trying for nearly a year to get pregnant, still without result. Are we doing something wrong? …

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. …

Man and woman lying on bed eating pizza

Adult Child Living at Home Disregards Parents’ Standards

What kind of standards of conduct and behavior should parents impose upon an adult child living in their home? Our single 29-year-old daughter lives with us in separate quarters off of the main house. She knows how deeply we feel about marriage as the only appropriate context for sexual expression, but she’s made a habit …

nervous looking child in pool

Child Is Overly Cautious

Should we be concerned about a child who doesn’t like to take risks? By way of example, he consistently avoids scary roller coasters. 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?

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 …

Mom hugging young adult daughter at event

Distance In Relationship With Grown Child

Is it normal for married adult children to become disconnected from their parents? There’s a coldness, distance, and separation that’s crept into my relationship with my adult daughter, and I think her spouse may have something to do with it. What have I done wrong? How do I show my concern and let her know …