Family Matters

Is there always a risk of suicide in depression? My spouse has struggled with depression on and off for years. She has a prescription for medication, but she doesn't always take it faithfully. Sometimes she seems so low that I begin to worry that she may harm herself in some way. Do you think I'm over-exaggerating the seriousness of the situation?

My parents recently got divorced because my mom was having an affair. Since then, she's moved in with this other man and plans to marry him within a few weeks. My husband and I live out of state, and it's been very difficult to deal with all of this. My mom is angry with me for not embracing her boyfriend with open arms. She's threatening to boycott family functions unless he is welcomed to take part, but frankly, I don't want to welcome him. I think I'm struggling to work out how I "feel" before I make up my mind how to behave. Does that make sense? What do you think? Should I be more accepting of my mom's decision? Should I readily accept her new husband?

What do you do about a kid who attacks other people with his teeth? Our strong-willed toddler has been displaying this negative behavior with increasing frequency over the past couple of months. How do we put a stop to it?

What can I do about an adult child who mistreats her spouse? Our daughter is married to a good, kind, giving man. We love them both very much, but most of the time my daughter is disrespectful and mean to her husband. He's passive and just takes it from her. It pains me to see her constantly treat him this way in front of us, their children, and other people. I want to speak with my daughter about her behavior, but my husband feels like I would be overstepping my bounds. Our entire extended family is aware of and upset by this, and the situation is only getting worse. What should we do?

What kind of treatments or therapies are available to kids who suffer from Sensory Processing Disorder? We're fostering a boy from an abusive, high-risk background. After several consultations with an occupational therapist we've come to the conclusion that many of his most aggravating behavioral problems can be traced to sensory-based issues.

Is it my place to get involved if I'm convinced that the physical environment in my son's house has become unsafe and unhealthy for my grandchild? I love my son and daughter-in-law, but I'm worried about their ten-month-old daughter's health. The house is piled with trash, the floors are filthy, there's month-old pizza stuck to the carpet and dirty diapers are left lying in every corner. To prevent my granddaughter from getting into these messes, they keep her in an infant seat most of the time - even though she's old enough to start crawling. Should I express my concerns over these troubling health conditions? If so, how can I help change the situation?

Is it unhealthy to poke fun at ourselves and tease other family members? We've always enjoyed laughing together at our house, and sometimes that includes what some people refer to as "teasing." Friends of ours have expressed concern that we may be fostering an "unsafe" environment that doesn't promote respectful relationships. Do you think there's a problem with this kind of humor?

When it comes to physical expressions of affection before marriage, how far is "too far"? My boyfriend and I are struggling in this area and wondering where to draw the line. Can you help me understand what the Bible means by "sexual immorality?"

How can I best minister to someone who has lost a family member to suicide? My good friend's son recently took his own life, and I'm at a loss as to what I should do or say to her. Can you help me?

Is the quality of time I spend with my family more important than the quantity?