Family Matters

What's the relationship between drugs, alcohol, and teen suicide? What should we do if we suspect that our child might be at risk for any of these behaviors?

How can we get our defiant toddler to lie down and go to sleep at night? He's a handful at any time and under any circumstances, but nothing can top his uncooperative behavior at bedtime. No matter how many times we put him to bed, he gets up again and again. I feel as if I'm losing my mind for lack of sleep. What can we do about this?

As a single mom with three young children, is it okay for me to want another person around to help carry the load? I used to feel pretty self-sufficient, but the burden of doing it all by myself is getting heavier. I work full time, take online college courses, and I'm active in church. Do you have any advice for someone in my situation?

The most beautiful and freeing thing about Christianity is that Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins. But Jesus also taught that believers should forgive one another as He forgives us. The practice of offering forgiveness to others, no matter how hard, is unquestioned in the Christian faith. When it comes to forgiving ourselves for our wrongdoings, that’s another story. Perhaps the sins of your past still overwhelm you and you’re unsure that you’ll ever be able to move past those mistakes.

Why has God given teens such strong a sexual drive and no healthy, acceptable way to satisfy it? This just doesn't seem fair. In Bible times people got married at a younger age. As a result, it was normal to have sex and start raising kids before you reached the age of 20. These days, much of society still frowns upon teenagers engaging in any kind of sexual activity. Why has God given us these feelings if we can't do anything about them?

How do we establish behavioral guidelines for a grown child who suffers from mental illness? Should our boundaries be the same as those we'd set up with any other child? Or do special considerations apply in a situation like this?

What should I do if my primary school child is getting so much homework that family time hardly exists and he has little energy for anything else? He spends hours on his assignments every night. As far as I can see, he isn't slow at completing his tasks. There's just too much to do! Is all this homework really necessary for effective learning and healthy childhood development?

If your teen daughter is causing your hair to fall out from panic over her fashion choices, then you’ll want to stay tuned to Family Matters because we’ll be tackling the issue of modesty and clothing battles between teens and parents.

How can I help my teens deal with the fallout of my divorce? It's been painful for everyone, but I'm especially concerned about my oldest son. Ever since my ex-husband left a year and a half ago, he seems to be putting himself under a lot of pressure to assume the role of the "man of the house." This is especially difficult for him since he was looking forward to going away to university next year. Now he feels obligated to stay at home and help the family. What can I do for him and the rest of the kids?

Most people love to have a good laugh from time to time, some even call laughing medicine for the soul. There are, however, some who seem to laugh and joke less than the rest of us, and perhaps that’s just their personality coming through.