Question: My husband and I have developed a serious conflict over how to handle his 19-year-old son (my stepson). The son recently left college and moved back home, and he now seems determined to live his own life. He doesn't work. He doesn't show respect to me and in fact is often hostile. Yet he expects me to provide his meals and clean his clothes....

“Mom, why do teenagers use swear words?” innocently asks ten year old Kaytie. This child’s question is one that many parents ask themselves, their friends and families virtually every day.  Whether overhearing a teen talking on the phone, chatting with a friend in the basement, or in the heat of an argument between siblings, parents of teens...

Aside from the first year of life, the first year of driving is the most dangerous year in a young person's life. Teen driver car crashes are the leading cause of permanent injury and death in teens and the first year of driving is the most dangerous. Do you know how to protect your teen? Why are young drivers at greater risk? Whenever we get...

I am having trouble with my 17 year old son. He allowed one of his unlicenced friends to drive his car and the car was wrecked. I am in the process of repairing the car. I have told my son that he will not get his car back until I see some signs of maturity - paying for his own car insurance and maintaining his grades, for example. He has had a chip...

I love the Christmas season -- it is always magical for me, even at mid-life. I have always made the Advent season special at my house. My Christmas enthusiasm for the holidays has spread on to my children and they still can’t wait until we set up our tree the Monday after Thanksgiving. I try to make the holiday season a learning season. During...

I love seeing the smiles on children’s faces as they see all the Christmas lights around town. Or the look of awe on their faces on Christmas morning when they wake up to presents under the tree. But as our children move into their teen years, the Christmas season loses some of its awe and wonder . . . if we let it. It’s true that we can’t...

I made a wonderful friend when I was in the eighth grade. Her name was Judy.  Our friendship survived puberty, boys, getting our driver’s licenses and even very bad perms.  But I think one of the biggest tests of our friendship was when I tried to gain weight while she was trying to lose. Just in case you don't know it, when you're a teenager,...