Family Matters

Is it a good idea for children to get involved in sports, dance classes, music lessons, and other commitments outside of their school work and household chores? How much of this kind of thing is too much? Can you suggest any practical guidelines?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

If there is more than one child in your home, you can bet there’ll be some form of sibling rivalry at one time or another. The important question is, how much conflict between siblings should parents allow and put up with?

If you have become despondent about the state of your Christian walk, you are not alone, many Christians wrestle with similar feelings every day.

As your child enters the teen years, you may notice that there’s been a shift in his or her loyalties. Where you were once your child’s safe place and confidant, you may realize that you’ve been relegated to the bench whilst friends take centerstage in their world.

There often comes a point in our adult lives when amidst our demanding task of parenting, we find that our own parents get to an age where they need our care as well. This is definitely not an easy situation to navigate.