Family Matters

How can we enjoy the lighter side of life and encourage laughter in our home but do it in an appropriate and edifying way? Many of our friends find amusement in things that I personally consider offensive. Can you suggest any helpful guidelines for healthy humor within the family?

Should I marry my pregnant girlfriend? Our relationship has always been fine, but I've never really thought we'd be together for the rest of our lives. This changes everything. She will be keeping and raising the baby, and I'd like to do my fair share, as well. My girlfriend has some major issues in life, and I'm certain that we'd face huge obstacles if we were to marry right now. In spite of this, I'm thinking about proposing. Many of my Christian friends have encouraged me to do this. What advice do you have?

What's the best way to handle the revelation of an affair when one guilty spouse has come clean or been exposed, but the husband or wife of the other unfaithful party is still in the dark?

How do I survive unemployment? It's been two years since I lost my job. After exhausting every possibility in my search for work, I no longer have any hope that my situation will ever change. My wife has gone back to work, but her income isn't enough to cover our bills even though we've trimmed expenses to the bare bone. To say I'm discouraged is a huge understatement. I actually feel like a complete loser. My wife tries to encourage me, but I don't think she understands how this experience has devastated and demoralized me. Where can I turn for help?

What's the best way for a stepparent to form strong bonds with his or her stepchildren? I recently got re-married to a wonderful man who is planning to adopt my three children. Unfortunately, my middle child, a preschool-age boy, has had a hard time warming up to him. What can we do to encourage their relationship?

Does the fact that I'm not ready to sleep in the same bed with my husband since learning of his affair mean that I haven't forgiven him? Several months ago I discovered that he had been involved with another woman for more than four years. He's sorry about it now and has cut off the relationship, but for some reason I'm still not at a place where I feel comfortable getting close to him or being intimate with him. He's frustrated by this and says that I obviously haven't forgiven him. He has also suggested that it might be best if he sleeps at a friend's house (of the same sex) until I'm ready to come back to bed with him. What should I do?

How do I know if I have a serious problem with electronic and online games? I'll admit I'm an avid player. I go straight to the computer every night after work and spend the rest of the evening there. It's a way to rest and relax after a hard day on the job. The only problem is that I'm also a married man and a father, and my wife is beginning to complain. She told me the other day that she thinks I'm addicted to gaming. Is that even possible?

How can we get our finicky four-year-old to eat what we put in front of her? Her highly selective eating habits are driving us up the wall. We never allow between-meal snacks, yet dinnertime has become a major pain. I see this refusal to eat as disobedience, but my spouse is afraid that making an issue of it will lead to eating disorders down the road. What should we do?

Do you have any advice for an older couple who have long-term custody of their grandchildren? Our two young grandkids are living with us and probably will be for some time. How do we provide them with a loving home without losing our sanity?

A listener wrote to us asking what Focus on the Family's position is on divorce and remarriage?