Currently browsing the Parenting Category

I Want a Baby. My Boyfriend Can’t Decide if he Wants One

Dear Neil: I’m in a four-year relationship with a man who just turned 40. We have been talking about marriage and kids for over two years now, almost always in conversations brought up by me. I’m almost 32, and I’m ready to start a family. My boyfriend has said he has real fears ...read more

Advice for Empty Nesters

 

Here’s how it feels: your child–or your last child, the baby–has gone off to college, gotten married or otherwise left home, and you are struggling with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, you’ve waited for this day a long time. You’ve fantasized about ...read more

How Much Influence Should my Family Have Over Who I Marry?

HOW MUCH INFLUENCE SHOULD MY FAMILY HAVE OVER WHO I MARRY?

 

 

 

Dear Neil: I am engaged to a wonderful, charming man. He is everything I want in a man: thoughtful, intelligent, funny, loving and handsome. We have been together over 4 years, and have seen ...read more

Narcissistic Parents Can Damage Kids

      Did you have a parent who constantly criticized you? Did this parent expect you to admire them and give them constant attention? Or perhaps your parent insisted that everything be done their way, and your contributions were ignored or devalued. If these descriptions of one ...read more

When Your Grown Kids Reject You

Dear Neil: I was an emotionally absent mother, just like my mother was to me. Now my children are adults with their own children, and I would like ...read more

Repairing a Relationship With Your Grown Son or Daughter

Dear Neil: We have had trouble with our daughter-in-law for years. She has decided to not let us into our son’s life, or our grandchildren’s ...read more

What Can I Do to Save My Marriage?

Dear Neil:  My husband and I have been together for 19 years.  The last ten have been horrible.  I was sad, dysfunctional and felt lost, unloved and unworthy.  Now my husband has had enough, has lost his passion for me, met someone else (three weeks ago) and is instigating separation ...read more

Should I Live with Photos of Widower’s Departed Spouse?

Dear Neil:  I am crazy in love with a wonderful man—a widower.  His late wife passed away eight years ago after 23 years of marriage.  We have been engaged for over a year now.  He has two grown sons, has another two sons (ages 10 and 12) at home and a special needs son that ...read more

Is There Anything We Can Do About Our Son Who Refuses Contact With Us?

Dear Neil:  Our 33 year-old son has no contact with us, but he also doesn’t have contact with his brothers, aunts or uncles, cousins and grandparents.  This has been going on for four years now.

Why would he be this rejecting of his parents?  Is there anything we can do to ...read more

Father’s Critical Parenting Style May be Hurting His Children

Dear Neil:  My husband seems to be looking for every little thing the kids do wrong, and it’s causing our children to act the same way toward each other.  He does this from the moment he gets up until he goes to bed.  He never points out the good.  What should I do?

Emotionally ...read more