E-Mail Q&A

Got a question you'd like to ask? Send it to us at weekend@family.org.

My Parents Object to My Engagement

My parents, especially my mom, don't think my fiancé and I should get married.

Parents Disagree on Teaching Manners

My husband doesn't think our 4-year-old needs to say "Yes sir" and "No sir," but I do. How do we compromise?

Getting an Infant to Sleep Through the Night

There are two popular approaches — which one is better?

My Teen Daughter is Being Seduced by the "Emo" Culture

I'm concerned about her behavior. What should I do?

Youngster Stealing Sweets

My young daughter is stealing sweets from the kitchen. What do I do?

Working Toward Reconciliation After an Affair

My husband had an affair, but we want to keep our marriage intact. What do we do?

Explaining Puberty to a Pre-Teen

How do I help my 8-year-old prepare for adolescence?

Addressing a Child's Fearful Imagination

How to deal with "nighttime scares."

Answering a Teen Daughter's Questions About Dating

Our 14-year-old is asking us about dating. How do we respond?

Giving Mom a "Dad's Night In"

How to give busy moms a much needed break.

Is It Okay to Teach Kids to Be Average?

"Is it all right for me to teach her that it's okay to be an average student?"

Spouses Disagree Over Family's Entertainment Choices

... but Dr. Bill Maier sees a more important issue at stake.

Teaching Contentment to Young Children

How can I get my 7-year-old to appreciate what he has and not always want more?

Mom Overprotects Her Kids From Winter Cold

My daughter believes her kids should stay indoors when the temperature drops below 60 degrees. What should I do?

Family Squabble Over Christmas Gifts Versus Charity

Our family wants to give Christmas gifts to each other, but we prefer to donate to charity instead.

Help for an Unmarried Pregnant Couple

A young, unmarried pregnant couple is asking for advice. Can you help?

My In-Law Shows Favoritism to Other Family Members

My mother-in-law would rather spend time with her daughter's family than ours. What do we do?

Precautions for Online Dating

I met a woman online who lives in another state. How should I pursue this relationship?

Marrying a Widow or Widower

I'm looking for information about dating and marrying someone who's lost their spouse.

My Teenage Niece Started Drinking

My niece confided in me she's drinking alcohol. Do I betray her trust and tell her parents?

How Do I Protect My Child from Verbal Abuse?

I'm concerned about how my ex-husband treats our five-year-old daughter.

Using Hypnosis to Kick a Smoking Habit

My wife and I are considering hypnosis to quit smoking. What do you think?

My Son is Starting to Display Obnoxious Behavior

What do I do to correct this?

When Young Children Steal Things

My young son takes things that don't belong to him. How do I correct this behavior?

Is My Tomboy Daughter a Lesbian?

My 12-year-old daughter claims she's in love with her girlfriend.

Avoid Quick Engagements

A college student asks Dr. Maier about marrying during college, or waiting until after graduation.

Dating After Divorce

I'm divorced and want to start a new relationship. How should I go about it?

Struggling to Keep a Clean House

I really want to be a godly wife and mother, but these days I feel more like a slave trying to meet unreasonable demands.

My Daughter and Her Boyfriend Spent the Night Together

How do I respond to this situation?

Dealing With a Deceitful Ex-Spouse

How do I deal with my ex-husband who continues to be dishonest with me and our two kids?

Divorced Man Wonders How Long To Wait

He's met an ex-girlfriend, and they've hit it off. Is it too soon?

My Kids Refuse to Sleep in Their Own Beds

How do I change their behavior?

Should a Brother and Sister Sleep in the Same Bed?

We're traveling, and our kids need to share a bed.

I Don't Love My Husband Anymore

I'm torn between leaving him and staying together for the kids' sake. What should I do?

Young Boys and Violent Toys

I'm concerned about some popular toys that my young boys want to have.

Explaining Grandparents' Divorce to Kids

How do I explain to my kids that their grandparents may be getting a divorce?

My Adult Son Smokes Pot

How can we convince our son to stop using marijuana?

My Husband's Questionable Friends

I'm concerned about the activities my husband and his guy friends engage in. What should I do?

My Son Watches "Ultimate Fighting" on TV

My husband and son watch it together, and I'm concerned about my son's exposure to the violence.

My Dad Doesn't Like My Boyfriend

My boyfriend and I are considering marriage, but my dad doesn't approve of him. What should I do?

Adult Child Dealing with Father's Constant Criticism

I'm 34, but my dad makes me feel like a 12-year-old with his criticism. What do I do?

Moving On After an Affair

My husband won't forgive me for having an affair. How do I move on?

Rebuilding Broken Trust with a Teen

How can we rebuild trust with our teen daughter?

Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents

I grew up with an alcoholic parent. Can you suggest resources for recovery?

Correcting a Child's Disrespectful Attitude

I allowed my son to develop a disrespectful attitude. How do I correct my mistake?

Home Schooling Mistake

I made a mistake trying to home school my teen daughter. How do I correct it?

Behavioral Changes as Child Enters Teens

My daughter recently entered the teen years, and I'm concerned about the change in her behavior.

Adulterous Husband Wants to Reconcile

My husband has been having an affair but claims he wants to reconcile. What should I do?

Pastor Offers Additional Suggestion for Youth Ministry

A pastor responds to recent advice given by Dr. Bill Maier.

How Do I Talk to My Child About Sex?

How should I teach my 10-year-old daughter about sex?

Teen Daughter Threatening Suicide

My 13-year-old is going through a rough time and is talking about suicide. What should I do?

How Do I Discipline My Stepchildren?

My teen stepchildren are out of control, and I don't know what to do.

Teen Daughter is Sexually Active

Our teen daughter is having sex with her boyfriend, and we don't know what to do.

Young Children and Social Networking Web Sites

What boundaries should I draw with my son who wants to join Facebook?

Couple Living Together Seeks Financial Advice

My live-in boyfriend and I argue a lot about money. Can you help us resolve our conflict?

Teen Daughter Involved with Young Adult Guy

Our 16-year-old daughter is friends with a 25-year-old man. Should I be concerned?

Teen Seeking Dating Advice

A 17-year-old wants to know how he can find the right person to date.

My Parents Object to My Boyfriend

I want to marry him, but my parents object to him because of his past mistakes. What should I do?

My Son-in-Law is Viewing Child Pornography

How can I help my daughter and protect my granddaughter?

Food Battles with a Four-Year-Old

Our daughter stubbornly refuses to eat her meals. What should we do?

My Boyfriend and I Are Fighting Over My Daughter

I feel like I'm caught in the middle. What do I do?

Teen's Sports Team is Cliquish

My daughter feels left out because her volleyball teammates are cliquish. What should I do?

Angry at Spouse for Premarital Sex

I've just discovered my husband had sex before we were married. How do I respond?

Teen Disagrees with Dr. Maier About Day Care

I am 15-years-old and disagree with what you have said about day care.

Marital Separation at Christmas

My husband and I are separated. It's Christmas, and I'm concerned about our kids.

Conflict in Church Over Santa

I don't think Christians should spread the Christmas myth about Santa Claus.

My Husband Is Addicted to Video Games

How can I help him break his addiction?

Our Young Child Hits Us After We Spank Her

After we spank our daughter, she hits us back. What do we do?

Teaching Young Children About Thanksgiving

How do you do it?

My Daughter is Pregnant Out of Wedlock

Our unmarried daughter is pregnant. How should we respond?

Explaining a Relative's Suicide to Kids

How do we explain my father-in-law's suicide to our children?

A Teen Seeking Dating Advice

A mature 17-year-old seeks sound dating advice from Dr. Bill Maier.

Should I Officiate a Wedding for a Cohabitating Couple?

A couple has asked me to perform their wedding, and I'm not sure if I should.

Teen Addiction to Text Messaging

I'm concerned about my teen daugther's obsession with text messaging.

Young Son Entering Puberty

My 10-year-old boy shows signs of puberty, especially through a negative attitude. What do I do?

Should My Boyfriend and I Live Together?

We're thinking of sharing an apartment until we get married.

My Grandson Is Rude to Me

How do I properly respond to my young grandson's rude behavior?

Young Couple Struggling With Sexual Purity

How can I maintain sexual purity with my boyfriend?

Toddler Discipline

How do I discipline my 11-month-old son?

Dispute Over Day Care

My husband and I disagree about putting our child in day care.

My Young Son is Overly Attached to His Mother

My 5-year-old son is overly attached to his mom. What can I do?

Preparing an 8-Year-Old Girl for Adolescence

Is it too early to talk to my 8-year-old daughter about puberty?

Dividing Time Between Children

Each of my daughters is jealous of the time I spend with the other. What do I do?

Teaching a Young Child How to Pray

How do I help my 7-year-old daughter learn how to pray properly?

My Young Child Has ADHD

What can I do to help my six-year-old son?

Fiancé Has a Porn Problem

My fiancé is addicted to pornography. What should I do?

No Longer Close With Teen Daughter

I miss the closeness I once enjoyed with my (now) teen daughter.

Dealing With a Parent's Infidelity

My mom's marrying the man she's had an affair with and wants me to welcome him with open arms.

Child With an Anxiety Disorder

A concerned mom writes about trichotillomania, an anxiety disorder that causes people to pull their hair out.

When to Let Kids Learn the Hard Way

When my son is having problems, when do I step in to help, and when do I let him learn on his own?

Teen Dance Party

Should we allow our daughter and her friends to dance at a party?

Bad Communication Leading to Divorce

My wife is divorcing me because of my inability to communicate well. How do I save my marriage?

Harsh Discipline

My husband disciplines our young son too harshly. What should I do?

My Non-Christian Husband Is Addicted to Porn

My husband refuses to view his pornography habit as a problem. What do I do?

Listener Finds Parenting Info Helpful

A "Weekend Magazine" listener appreciates Dr. Bill Maier's parenting advice.

A Young Child Struggling with Faith in God

My six-year-old son has doubts about God. How do I respond?

Teaching Young Children About Modesty

How can I teach my young kids about modesty?

Finding Support in Raising an Autistic Child

Our family needs help and support in raising our autistic son.

When Grandparents Spoil Their Grandchildren

How do my spouse and I prevent our kids from being spoiled by other family members?

When Toddlers Are Picky Eaters

How do you get picky children to eat what you set before them?