Should I invite my estranged father to my wedding? [more inside]
posted by gauche on Dec 18, 2009 - 27 answers

How can I handle my feelings for my parents during this holiday season? [more inside]
posted by bananaskin on Nov 1, 2009 - 32 answers

Facebook's forcing me to deal with a family rift. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 13, 2009 - 22 answers

My friend and her ex-boyfriend got in a fight, he got violent and beat her up pretty bad. She got in the car with their baby and fled cross-country to stay with her parents. There is a hearing next month to determine custody of the child, and she doesn't want to lose the kid to what is likely going to be an abusive father. Lawyer up, right? Problem is, not a lot of money. Can you point me to any organizations in California that provide pro-bono / sliding-scale / low-cost legal aid services for abused women? [more inside]
posted by sergeant sandwich on Jun 28, 2009 - 10 answers

I may have been abused as a child, but I'll never know for sure. How can I stop worrying about it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 9, 2009 - 21 answers

My brother-in-law's domestic abuse is tearing my family apart and I really don't know what to do or how to handle the situation anymore. I need some advice. [more inside]
posted by csimpkins on Nov 26, 2008 - 54 answers

Does anyone here have any experience with nominations for conservatorship in the state of California, either as a potential conservator, an attorney, social worker, psychiatrist or anyone else who plays a role in the process? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 16, 2008 - 2 answers

FamilyCrapFilter: Please help- What to do with abusive, intrusive, stalking mother who shows up on my doorstep? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 2, 2007 - 39 answers

A few months ago, my sister disclosed to my family that she was molested as a child by an aide to a former baby sitter. We would like to help her but we have no idea how to proceed from here. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 12, 2007 - 7 answers

My sister and I have very different "memories" of our childhood. It makes it extremely difficult to communicate. I'm wondering if anyone has the same experience and what can be done about it. [more inside]
posted by Manhasset on Dec 1, 2005 - 33 answers

I was raised by an abusive father. Now in my early 30's I am looking ahead to the future when I may become a father. I am determined not to recreate the family environment I grew up in but know how these things sometimes turn out -- that people determined not to recreate something sometimes wind up doing so in an unforseen manner. I was in therapy for 2 years in my 20's to work on the issues but therapy is not an option now because of money. I have worked hard not to be my father, but part of me is afraid that I will wind up being like him as a parent. (In particular, I worry about being a father to a son because of my history). I am looking for information about the father-son relationship as well as information about how to be a good parent when you have a background like mine. Please offer advice, books, suggestions - anything that can help.
posted by anonymous on Feb 13, 2005 - 16 answers