A few years ago I sat at lunch with my daughter trying to convince her I should be permitted to visit her at college as often as I wished. Still in high school at the time, I suppose she thought we were spending plenty of time together because she was adamant that I visit only when my company was requested. From the sound of it, it seemed such invitations would arrive few and … [Read more...] about A Daughter Will Always Need Her Father
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Are Fathers Biologically Inferior Parents?
Q: Isn't it true that mothers are naturally better at parenting than fathers? Don’t moms have some sort of instinct that dads don’t have?A: Margaret Mead once said that fathers are a biological necessity, but a social accident. And throughout much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries our culture has been trying very hard to make this view a reality. Socialized into being … [Read more...] about Are Fathers Biologically Inferior Parents?
How to Help Stepmom Adapt to Her New Role
Q: I'm the divorced father of two kids. I've been going out with a wonderful woman for a few months now and we're heading in the direction of getting married. The problem is that she's not quite sure how to behave around my kids. What can I do to help her—and my kids—feel more like a family? How do I help my kids accept her as part of our family? A: You are the single most … [Read more...] about How to Help Stepmom Adapt to Her New Role
When Your Teenager Turns to Crime
Q: Help! Our 18-year-old son just got arrested. He's been in trouble with the law before and never did well in school. His mother and I know he's responsible for his own actions, but we can't help blaming ourselves. We feel like failures as parents. Where did we go wrong and what can we do for our son?A: Parenting an adolescent isn't a particularly easy thing to do even under … [Read more...] about When Your Teenager Turns to Crime
Your Child’s First Day of School
Q: My five-year old is going to start school in the Fall. He's all excited about the whole idea of Kindergarten, but I'm nervous. How can his mother and I help prepare him for this big change in his life? What can my wife and I do to prepare ourselves? A: The first day of school is always a big day for kids-and sometimes a bigger day for mom and dad. Even though … [Read more...] about Your Child’s First Day of School