From past addicts/addiction experience - At what point does a teen drug use go beyond teenage rebellion into a full blown addiction, and can anything be done if the teen doesn't want help, and not all parties are on board with consequences? Snowflake details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on May 19, 2012 -
15 answers
Parenting filter: I have two kids, 11 and 9. I'm a divorced dad trying to figure out a plan for their accountability for their chores when they're with me. The biggest stumbling block seems to be division of labor. On the one hand, assigning individual chores (Daughter, you wash the dishes. Son, you dry and put away) and rewarding for completion seems simple enough. But I want to teach them teamwork, negotiation, time management (who does what part first) and shared responsibility. So sometimes I say "Clean the kitchen, you figure out who does what". The latter seems better for a shared reward like a trip to the movies. Does anyone favor one approach over the other, and why? BTW they're coming from a household where their mom and I differed on how to handle chores, so they're a little used to coasting.
posted by punocchio
on May 17, 2012 -
22 answers
Does this car exist (USA)? 4 wheel drive, third row seating, manual transmission? No sliding doors; I don't want a minivan. Help me maintain my dignity while driving kids around, please.
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posted by iscatter
on May 12, 2012 -
23 answers
My husband loves his 2007 Mini Cooper S convertible, but also loves his 3 year old, 38" tall, 30 lb daughter. We're hoping to bring the two things together with the perfect car seat. It needs to be easy to get into for the kid, harness (as opposed to seat belt) preferred. Have any actual real-life Mini owners made this work?
posted by nkknkk
on May 10, 2012 -
4 answers
First time air travel with an 11 month old. Need all the advice I can get from experienced parents!
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posted by AdamOddo
on May 2, 2012 -
25 answers
I currently work 20 hrs./week at a local nonprofit in field "XYZ." My husband works full time (8-6, usually), and we have a 2-year-old son who goes to my parents' house while I'm at work (3 days a week). However, yesterday I was contacted about a full-time job that's very appealing, and I don't know whether to pursue it.
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posted by trillian
on Apr 20, 2012 -
17 answers
Maternity leave: did you space yours out over a year (if your place of employment offers that option)? How did it go? Did you regret not taking it all up front, or were there real hidden benefits?
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posted by tristeza
on Apr 11, 2012 -
18 answers
My kid wants to play Minecraft. I am not a gamer. Please help me answer questions regarding system requirements, appropriateness and how to get him started when I really don't want to get involved at all!
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posted by BlahLaLa
on Mar 15, 2012 -
30 answers
First-time parents looking for resources to get 4-month infant to sleep on his back. We've already consulted our pediatrician and family, and searched online... would appreciate any more help!
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 8, 2012 -
34 answers
Have you discovered your child has seen online pornography? What did you do about it?
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posted by amoeba
on Mar 5, 2012 -
25 answers
What parenting advice/gospel did you choose NOT to follow? Why? Are you pleased with your choice?
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posted by semacd
on Mar 3, 2012 -
42 answers
I'm looking for suggestions for science fiction/fantasy/fairy-tales/etc. for young(ish) girls. I'm especially interested in epic stories that are similar to the ones I devoured when I was that age (Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, superhero comics, Dragonlance, etc.), but which are centered on female protagonists and which don't reinforce sexist social messaging about female passivity or objectification.
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posted by gerryblog
on Feb 26, 2012 -
47 answers
Help me tame our 7 year old daughter before she makes all of the boys in her second grade class cry.
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posted by mosk
on Feb 8, 2012 -
36 answers
Need suggestions on how my kids should address me, their transgender father. "Dad" now seems kind of weird at times.
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posted by TranSubstantial
on Jan 17, 2012 -
53 answers
Looking for a good father/daughter book for upcoming baby girls. (twins!) I've been looking but I've had some trouble because of three things I'm looking for:
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posted by jragon
on Dec 30, 2011 -
4 answers
Unwilling toddlers and forced social interactions with adults: is it OK to instruct your child to (for instance) hug Great-Aunt Maisie, when she'd prefer not to?
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posted by Bardolph
on Dec 29, 2011 -
46 answers
This is not going to be pretty. I need to know if there is any way for me to maintain a life with my children if I cannot maintain one with my wife.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 26, 2011 -
91 answers
My almost-3 year old, who is normally quite sweet, has started melting down about EVERYTHING and refuses to climb/go down stairs, and walk reasonable distances. Physical issue, school adjustment issue or just a phase? How do I grit my teeth and get through it?
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posted by kpht
on Dec 14, 2011 -
36 answers
I want to have a baby. It is not the right time to have a baby. Rationally, I understand this. But emotionally, I am freaking out because of my age and feeling like I may not have other chances. How to best reconcile this?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 7, 2011 -
49 answers
I am looking for a book or a movie geared at younger kids (mine is 7), that would start a conversation about things not always being as they appear. Kinda like how toys on TV never end up to be as cool as they look, or how some people make promises that sound good, but they just don't deliver. I'd like to help my daughter start to develop the intelligence and skill set to truly discern the difference between substance and smoke.
posted by lakersfan1222
on Dec 1, 2011 -
23 answers
Adoption after infertility and loss: how did you reconcile the grief of not conceiving a biological child and come to find joy in the process of adopting?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 29, 2011 -
14 answers
Seattle 2 year old is going stir crazy every day and needs to get out of the house. We're getting tired of our usual local activities, what are some of your favorites?
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posted by Slarty Bartfast
on Nov 27, 2011 -
15 answers
I need advice on how to raise disciplined, well-behaved children.
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posted by zarq
on Nov 23, 2011 -
47 answers
I'm looking for advice on how to help my five year old with some behavioral issues.
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posted by Cuke
on Nov 22, 2011 -
19 answers
Looking for a book title. The book is about the change in parental-child relationships from the strict disciplinarian-distant parent model of old to the parent/friend relationship that many people embrace today. The book describes how the former model—in place around the world for centuries—led to martial societies, culminating in the bloodiest century in history before many of us began to throw out the old parenting model.
posted by Tom Blees
on Nov 21, 2011 -
5 answers
What can I say to a 5 year old, when his parent is mentally unwell?
How can I explain, what can I do with him, and what structures can we put in place, to make his mother's (temporary, but severe) illness easier on him?
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posted by Elysum
on Nov 20, 2011 -
19 answers
What shall I do with my 3 yr old's tooth cavity? I am feeling depressed over it
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posted by akomom
on Nov 15, 2011 -
25 answers
What is it actually like going to a well above average public school system, compared to an average or below average one?
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posted by imabanana
on Nov 2, 2011 -
54 answers
What skills did your Dad pass on to you that you appreciate, or have benefited from, the most? Or better yet, what should I learn so I can teach my boys as they grow up? I want to keep it basic, so they at least have a foundation in a number of things.
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posted by andywolf
on Nov 1, 2011 -
96 answers
Help me teach my 7-year old to SEE! I love my 7-year old son beyond words. He’s creative, cheerful, smart, and loving. However, he truly doesn’t
see the world around him. My 4-year old daughter is much more aware of her surroundings. I don’t want to change him, just help him learn how to open his eyes and be more aware of his environment. The fact is, I have been the same way he is for most of my life, and I’ve learned recently that life is not only easier but more fun when you’re aware of your surroundings. I’d rather he not have to wait 30 years to improve.
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posted by zachawry
on Oct 21, 2011 -
21 answers
How did you instill confidence in your children? How did your parents help you become a confident child and adult?
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posted by Nickel Pickle
on Oct 19, 2011 -
37 answers
Parents who were still cosleeping at one year: can you give me your stories of transitioning your little darlings to their own beds/rooms?
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posted by rabbitrabbit
on Oct 16, 2011 -
28 answers
