Baby Fever... The biological clock is ticking hard. While I realize it is totally natural, and I know that eventually I want children, how do I calm the hell down? I feel such a huge sadness when I think that it might never happen... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 12, 2009 - 34 answers

I'm a nanny for a woman who's been unemployed for 2.5 months and is now depressed. The means she is a) home ALL THE TIME, and b) driving me absolutely crazy. What, if anything, can I say? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 26, 2009 - 24 answers

My kid spent the night with his friend. The next day, thinking he's still at the friend's house, I get a phone call from the local grocery store. Seems my kid was shoplifting. Now, both of the mom's involved are angry with each other. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 19, 2009 - 39 answers

Being a parent. What's appropriate in terms of displaying emotions? Of course, more inside. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 12, 2009 - 51 answers

How can I help someone who has three young children but who doesn't want to be a mother anymore? I know that this sounds completely irresponsible and selfish and cruel but I would appreciate help if you can take the time to read the details. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 8, 2009 - 27 answers

Parenting techniques, insight, and maturity needed before I completely ruin my kid's life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 8, 2009 - 36 answers

We're going to have a second boy. Help us get rational about it. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 16, 2009 - 75 answers

My parents split about a year ago. My father has started dating under unusual circumstances, and it makes me somewhat angry. Am I overreacting? How can I find peace with the situation? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 4, 2009 - 32 answers

Any insights on how I can help my daughter? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 1, 2009 - 48 answers

It looks like my daughter will be earning a full scholarship to essentially the private school of her choice in NYC. These schools on average cost around $35,000/year. What's it like to go to an expensive private high school on scholarship? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 23, 2009 - 23 answers

I'm going through a severe period of depression, and I'm having a hard time being a good parent. Can anyone give me advice on how to get through this without traumatizing my children? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 25, 2009 - 16 answers

Can someone recommend a psychologist in Metro Vancouver who deals with adolescents and adults? My wife and I are at our limits with our 16 yr old who we believe may have some form of personality disorder. We would like her to get some counseling but she's adamantly opposed to it. We would like to get some professional advice ourselves on how best to deal with our family issues and possibly on how to convince her to go for counseling , but picking a name out of a phone book is too much of a duckshoot. I pick Mefi over the yellow pages!
posted by anonymous on Mar 24, 2009 - 7 answers

I'm having a baby girl any week now, and I couldn't be more excited, but it's left me thinking a lot about whether or not I want my parents involved in my daughter's life. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 9, 2009 - 19 answers

What is empty nest like for couples who had their children young? My wife and I had our daughter young. We are both 31 and our daughter is 13. We have been raising children our whole adult life. What is it like for parents like us when their children move out? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 5, 2009 - 12 answers

Strategies needed for negotiating with my 6 year old kid's school re: rules, behavior, etc. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 30, 2009 - 26 answers

My ex is a drunk, so I threw him out. However, we have a young child, and I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go from here. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 23, 2009 - 14 answers

How to deal with a bad aesthetic environment whilst bringing up a child. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 1, 2008 - 27 answers

What are your tips for parenting small kids when you have a chronic illness? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2008 - 10 answers

Going from zero to parents in a couple of weeks. Or less. Yikes! [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 10, 2008 - 17 answers

Is it possible for a small child to have cataplexy without narcolepsy? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 7, 2008 - 6 answers

I just found out from my parents that my dad probably isn't my biological father. It's not a particularly dramatic situation, as these things go (it was a sperm donor situation, we're all living happily ever after), but what do I need to do now? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 - 10 answers

What do you do once you have a kid and family problem stakes seem higher, i.e. you're concerned about exposing your child things that go against what you believe? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 6, 2008 - 27 answers

Having kids or not when you have chronic health issues: how did you decide and come to terms with it? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 21, 2008 - 12 answers

I just had a baby, and I'm looking for ways to keep being the "strong one." [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 25, 2007 - 22 answers

I am a father of a soon to be 14y/o son and an 11 y/o girl. Both me and my wife lost our fathers when we were about 10y/o (hers died, mine split) so we are blazing new territory here. We are basically clueless as far as how we should not only discipline but simply how to act or know what to expect in terms of what is normal for both our kids and ourselves with our kids. Is there anything out there that can be used as a guide to help us understand how to parent our children without having to pay someone to attend a touchy-feely conference? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 14, 2007 - 18 answers

I think my son's about to tell me he's gay. I want to say the best thing possible. What is that? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 11, 2007 - 53 answers

Help me help my troubled son. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 9, 2007 - 46 answers

Should I commit to my significantly overweight girlfriend? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 21, 2007 - 46 answers

I'm a gay male. Although it's several years out still, I've been thinking a lot about parenthood. So much, much [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 25, 2007 - 11 answers

I hate my mum. She has done nothing to deserve this. How do I start loving her again? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 18, 2007 - 24 answers

Did your parents divorce when you were a small child? Do you wish they hadn't? Do you wish they had handled it differently? What did they do right? How do you feel about the custody arrangement they worked out? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 9, 2007 - 41 answers

Parents, tell me: how do you cope with the sleep deprivation that comes with the territory of having a baby? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 26, 2007 - 38 answers

My five-year old son has some benign but frequent sterotypies - flapping his hands, jumping in circles, grimacing. He's entering kindergarten this fall, and I'm worried about how this behavior might cause him trouble in the school environment. Any insights and experience from parents, teachers, or people with sterotypies themselves would be extremely helpful. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 23, 2007 - 23 answers

How do you make sure grandparents stay out of the picture? I'd like to be a parent someday and of course successfully protect my child from harm. This would mean raising him or her without contact with my family. My greatest fear is someone forcing grandparent/other relative visitation somehow: is this even possible? Looking for opinions, anecdotes, articles, legal precedents, books, websites etc. that deal with this situation... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 5, 2007 - 19 answers

I have a 7 month old son. We love him to death, but he's currently driving us crazy with his wildly inconsistent sleeping habits. What should we do? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 29, 2006 - 26 answers

What are the appropriate next steps for a divorced parent to take when she finds out that her 16 year old son has been smoking pot for the last year? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 1, 2006 - 25 answers

Was your father 45+ when you were born? Were your own children born later in your life? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 27, 2006 - 34 answers

Legal/Social ramifications of giving reproductive stuff to a same-sex couple who wishes to conceive? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 14, 2006 - 12 answers

Me: "Do you think about hurting yourself?" My son: "Suicide? All the time." Help us please. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 9, 2006 - 63 answers

I'm an unrepentant pothead, as are my friends and family. We've been at it for decades; generations, even... it's not changing anytime soon. This is not going over well with my children who are: nine, eleven and thirteen. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 3, 2006 - 91 answers

My eight year old son is behaving sexually at school and at camp. I feel that it's too early for the birds and bees talk. But he has been in trouble. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 1, 2005 - 37 answers

Could my preteen son be gay? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 24, 2005 - 54 answers

To the metaparents... how did you know you were ready to add to your family? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 22, 2005 - 21 answers

I've lost my primary income provider recently (MI). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 19, 2005 - 10 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

Mysonhatesmefilter: Very often, My 2.5 year old son wants nothing to do with me. [more inside, if you please, Matt]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2004 - 40 answers