My soon-to-be eighth-grade daughter has suddenly started closing her bedroom door almost all the time and locking it sometimes. Should I ask why? Tell her to stop?      Thanks for this question. I think it is something that many…

When our kids are little, sleeping and eating are usually the main things with which parents concern themselves. As they grow into curious and mobile toddlers, discipline inches up to the top of that list. It can be confusing if…

I have a friend who spanks her kids. She has told me about her system. While I don’t use physical discipline on my children, I try not to judge the way she parents her kids. The issue is this: My 5-year-old…

When I visited my mother over the holidays for five days, I caught a lot of grief about putting my 4- and 6-year-olds in bed pretty early (as usual) and limiting sugary treats (like always). How do you feel about…

My 9-year-old daughter has told me there is a little boy in her class who is getting picked on because of the kind of shoes he is wearing. It’s quiet and mean, and this boy is not responding, so the…

We had some fertility challenges and used donors (egg and sperm) for both our children. Consequently, our two kids – ages three and almost five – look nothing like me or my husband. Body type, hair color, eye color –…

I read some texts on my 11-year-old son’s phone and I’m horrified. His friends (boys and girls) are into way more than they should be at this age – or at least it appears like that is the case. There…