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Family Q&A

scared boy in dark with teddy bear

Toddler Restless at Night

Do you have any suggestions for getting a 2-year-old to go to bed and stay there? It’s a miserable struggle at our house because our son fights us every step of the way. When he does finally get to sleep, it’s not unusual for him to be up several times during the night, requesting water …

back of child's head staring at screen

Violent Toys and TV Programs

Should I be concerned that my young son has been spending a lot of time watching violent cartoons and playing with the “spin-off” action figures marketed by the shows’ producers? How do you think these programs and products affect the attitudes and behavior of children?

concerned older woman on phone, younger man in background

Worried That Son-in-Law Isn’t Caring for His Family

As a parent and grandparent, should I step in to help if I feel that my son-in-law is not caring properly for my daughter and my grandchildren? What makes this especially difficult is that his actions (or lack thereof) could put his family’s safety at risk. For example, he constantly forgets to put oil in …

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?

boy lying on the floor playing

Concerned about Young Son’s Masculinity

Should we be worried about our little boy’s sexual identity? He’s still very young, but he likes to play store and draw pictures all day long, and he can’t throw a ball three feet. Is he turning into a “sissy?” What can we do to help him develop a healthy sense of his masculinity?

kids lying with heads in the middle on carpet

Setting Boundaries With Neighborhood Kids

What can I do when I feel like our house is being overrun by neighbor children? It seems every kid on the block plays in our yard these days. We seem to have stricter rules than most parents on our street about where our grade-school children are allowed to go, so all the kids end …

back of young boy standing on beach looking at water

Young Child Fondles Genitals

Is it unusual, abnormal or immoral for my child to be touching or playing with his genitals? I’ve caught him at it several times at home, and once it even happened in public. What should I do?

young boy reading a book

Concerns About a Boy Developing Healthy Masculine Traits

How can we be sure that our young son will grow up to be a healthy, fully masculine man? He’s only five years old, but his mother and I are already concerned about certain aspects of his behavior and temperament. He avoids loud, rough-and-tumble play, and so far he hasn’t shown much interest in team …

gloved hand holding a tattoo pen

What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos?: Advice for Parenting Teens

Does the Bible forbid tattoos?

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?

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?

Mom and daughter having fun at festival

Helping a Teen Girl Become a Woman

What can my husband and I do to help our teenage girl become the woman God wants her to be? In this gender-bending society, we’re especially concerned to make sure that she retains her femininity while also growing up to be a strong, well-adjusted, self-sufficient adult. Any suggestions?

father and son are watching something in the distance

Parental Authority Over a Grown Child

Now that our son is over 18, should he still obey us?

Preschool boy covering face so he can't see.

Preschooler Walked in on Parents Having Sex

What should we do about our young son walking in on us during sex?

baby with pacifier in car seat

Recognizing Autism in Toddlers

How can I know if my child might be in danger of developing autism? He’s one year old and starting to walk, but he hasn’t begun talking yet – no “mama,” “dada,” or anything else. If he wants something, he just points and screeches. I’ve also noticed that he often stares off into the distance and …

Child lying on bed looking at camera with defiance

Strong-Willed Child Won’t Stay in Bed

How can we get our defiant toddler to lie down and go to sleep at night?

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 …

teen boy and girl holding hands

Parental Guidelines for Teen Dating

What rules and guidelines should we set for our teenager who wants to start dating?

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 …