John's Articles
What Should Single Mom Do About Disrespectful Son?
Posted on 6/7/2022
Q: I’m a single mother with a 13-year-old son. His father, whom he sees infrequently, has PTSD from battle experiences. My son has anger toward his father, but I can’t get him to talk about it....
Read MoreDiscipline Differences Between Divorced Parents
Posted on 5/10/2022
Q: We see my husband's 9-year-old son every other weekend and two weeks in the summer. He has major issues in school with both behavior and doing his work. He's well behaved when he's with us, but...
Read MoreOn Chores, Discipline, Potty-Training
Posted on 3/29/2022
Q: When I give my 5-year-old daughter a chore, she does it, but all the while she is muttering under her breath, huffing and puffing, and so on. Do I discipline that behavior or just let her...
Read MoreHandle Split Custody Parenting Issues With Grace
Posted on 9/14/2020
Q: My 13-year-old son’s grades and overall respect for me and other adults – teachers, in particular – began going downhill last year (eighth grade), even before the shutdown. He began school this...
Read MoreFather's Visitation With Child Should Be Allowed
Posted on 1/15/2020
Q: Our ten-year-old granddaughter lives with us. We have custody of her but her father, our son, is now asking us for visitation privileges. I probably don’t need to tell you that both he and his...
Read MorePlaying War Games Not Unusual for Young Boys
Posted on 10/22/2019
Q: My normally happy 6-year-old son has recently started incorporating death and war-like games into his imaginative play. He isn't and has never been a mean-spirited child, but his dad and I just...
Read MoreOne Reason Why Marriages Go Bad: Postnatal Marital Amnesia
Posted on 12/12/2018
Just about every marriage has its share of bad times; then again, some marriages simply go bad. The reasons for the latter include abuse, adultery, alcoholism (and other forms of chemical...
Read MoreExchange Arrangements Stressful to Pre-Teen Daughter
Posted on 9/12/2018
Q: I am reading your book “The Well-Behaved Child” and have a question that it doesn’t address. I am a single mom with children from two different fathers. One of my ex-husbands (my son’s father)...
Read MoreKeep Facts About 'Donor Dad' Mum Until Child Is 15
Posted on 10/25/2017
Q: My son just turned 5 and is starting to ask various questions about parents including why some people have two parents and he only has one. About two months before he turned two, his "donor"...
Read MoreCustody Issue: Teen Acts Aggressively Towards Mother
Posted on 1/12/2016
Q: My ex-husband and I have pretty much fifty-fifty custody of our 15-year-old son, who has become infected with his father’s disrespect for me. When he’s with me, he makes it very clear that he...
Read MoreNot All Outcomes Are Equal
Posted on 2/17/2015
Copyright 2015, John K. Rosemond Equality under the law is a uniquely American principle, one that no freedom-loving person would oppose, but the manner in which said principle is...
Read More3-Year-Old Girl Missing Dad
Posted on 8/2/2011
Tot's distress isn't about missing dad Q. My daughter will be 3 years old soon. Her father was primary caretaker until she was around 20 months, then he left and she hasn't seen him since. I...
Read MoreSon From a Previous Marriage
Posted on 10/26/2010
Who should tell son of half-brother? Q: My ex-husband and I aren't friendly. Ours was his second marriage. His first marriage produced a child, but when he and his first wife divorced, he...
Read MoreBoys Need Fathers, Not Friends
Posted on 11/17/2009
TODAY'S MALES NEED FATHERS, NOT FRIENDS I recently spent some time with a friend who has three children. My buddy is a college-educated responsible guy who has never failed to do right by his...
Read More13-Year-Old Girl Obsessed with Boys Needs Male Role Model
Posted on 10/27/2009
GIRLS NEED POSITIVE MALE ATTENTION IN LIVES Q. My 13-year- old daughter seems obsessed with boys. She will talk to a boy on the phone one time and then tell me that he's her new boyfriend....
Read MoreMom Disciplines 15-Year-Old Daughter, But Ex Does Not Follow Through
Posted on 10/13/2009
MOM DISCIPLINES DAUGHTER, THEN DIVORCED DAD IGNORES IT Q. My 15-year-old daughter's grades have dropped this year, and I have taken away most of her privileges. But she spends a few nights a...
Read More6-Year-Old Boy Interest in War-Like Games
Posted on 10/28/2008
INTEREST IN WAR-LIKE GAMES NOT UNUSUAL FOR BOYS Q: My happy 6-year-old son has started incorporating death and war-like games into his play. He has never been a mean-spirited child, but his dad...
Read More13-Year-Old Girl Disappointed with Dad
Posted on 8/12/2008
DAUGHTER'S DISAPPOINTED WITH DAD Q. My 13-year-old daughter's father is irresponsible. He frequently cancels visits and is often obviously lying about the reasons. Nonetheless, I've told her...
Read MoreTeen Wants to Live with Dad
Posted on 10/10/2006
TEENAGER WANTS TO GO LIVE WITH DAD Q: I have joint custody of my son who has threatened that when he turns 14 he is going to go live with his father, who's been encouraging this. My husband and...
Read MoreMom Can't Control How Ex Handles 15-Year-Old's School Issues
Posted on 4/26/2005
MOM CAN'T CONTROL HOW EX-HUSBAND HANDLES SON Q: Two years ago, my husband and I separated after 25 years of marriage. We have a daughter who lives on her own and a 15-year-old son who chose...
Read MoreNo Longer Husband and Wife, but Still Father and Mother
Posted on 9/16/2003
TEAMWORK OFTEN KEY IN DISCIPLINE Q: I am the single mother of a 9-year-old boy. I feel like I'm a fairly good disciplinarian, but I occasionally ask my ex-husband, from whom I've been divorced...
Read MoreDivorced Parents of 8-Year-Old Should "Tag Team" Discipline
Posted on 2/18/2003
TAG-TEAM DISCIPLINE WORKS - IF IT'S WELL-COORDINATED Q: My husband's 8-year-old son lives with his mother. We see him every other weekend and for two weeks in the summer. He has major problems...
Read More4-Year-Old is Indulged and Coddled
Posted on 11/26/2002
Q: I don't have children of my own yet, but I'm expecting soon. My lack of parenting experience is central to a discussion between my husband and me concerning what his 4-year-old son from his...
Read More8- and 10-Year-Old are Disrespectful to Dad and Step-Mom
Posted on 8/27/2002
VISITATIONS SHOULD END AT ONCE IF SONS DISOBEY Q: I am black and my husband is white. We have weekend visits with his sons, 10 and 8. The weekends are tortuous because in our home the children...
Read MoreHusband Slanders Ex-Wife When 5- and 8-Year-Old Come To Visit
Posted on 8/21/2001
JUST LET EX-SPOUSE'S SLANDER SLIDE AWAY Q. My two children, ages 8 and 5, visit my ex-husband every other weekend. Invariably, they come home with tales of nasty things he has said and lies he...
Read More14-Year-Old is Disrespectful and Hostile Toward Mom
Posted on 11/10/1998
DON'T LET YOUR HOSTILE SON TURN YOU INTO HIS TARGET Q. I'm a single mother with custody of my 14-year-old son. His father, whom he sees infrequently, has mental problems stemming from battle...
Read MoreMother Rewards 8-Year-Old for Misbehavior
Posted on 5/5/1998
MOTHER IS REWARDING CHILD FOR DISOBEYING A good friend told me the following story. She called it a joke, although I'm not sure everyone would agree. This couple owned a large dog named...
Read MoreSingle Mom of 4- and 7-Year-Old Considering Moving Away from Ex-Husband
Posted on 4/29/1997
IT MAY BE OK TO LET PARENT'S BEST INTEREST SWAY DECISION Q. I am a single mother with two children, ages 7 and 4. At present, we live in the same community as my ex-husband. The problem is,...
Read MoreCouple Wants to Know How to Tell 6- and 9-Year Old About Divorce
Posted on 4/22/1997
IF YOU'RE DIVORCING, BREAK NEWS TO KIDS GENTLY, CLEARLY, QUICKLY Q. My wife and I have decided to get a divorce. We haven't told our two children, ages 9 and 6, and want to do so in as...
Read MoreHurdles of a Step-Family
Posted on 4/15/1997
STEP FAMILY SHOULD FOCUS ON MARRIAGE, AUTHORITY 1. I am a single mother with a 9-year-old son. Robbie's father sees him on a regular basis, and they have a good relationship. I've recently...
Read MoreChild Support Payments
Posted on 9/15/1995
DEADBEAT DAD CASE SHOWS CLEARLY THAT CURRENT LAW IS UNFAIR TO MEN Jeffrey Nichols, scream the headlines, is "America's Worst Deadbeat Dad.'' In 1985, after 16 years of marriage and three...
Read MoreHusband is Critical of Ex-Wife to their 7- and 9-Year-Old Children
Posted on 3/3/1995
IF THE EX CHOOSES TO BAD-MOUTH YOU TO THE KIDS, DO THIS Q. My ex-husband and I have been divorced now for nearly two years, but he doesn't seem to be able to let go of his bitterness. Almost...
Read More9-Year-Old Does Not Obey Step-Mom
Posted on 1/29/1993
MAN'S STEPDAUGHTER OBEYS HER MOM BETTER: WHY? Q. My 9-year-old stepdaughter, who lives primarily with us, does not obey me as well as she does her mother. How would you suggest I deal with...
Read MoreEx Criticizes Spouse to 8- and 10-Year-Old Children
Posted on 11/27/1992
THERE'S A WAY TO DEAL WITH EX-HUSBAND (CALMLY) ABOUT TALES HE TELLS THE KIDS Q. My ex-husband sees our two children, ages 10 and 8, every other weekend. Ever since our bitter divorce, he has...
Read MoreDifferent Expectations at Homes of Divorced Couple
Posted on 11/20/1992
CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN MORE THAN ONE HOUSEHOLD CAN ADAPT JUST FINE Q. My husband's two young children live with us every other weekend, during certain holidays and for a month in the summer....
Read MoreForgiveness is the Best Healing in a Divorce Situation
Posted on 10/18/1991
DIVORCE' MY PARENTS? I HEAL MY CHILDHOOD ANOTHER WAY I was brought up in what surely qualifies as a dysfunctional family. Three of them, in fact. My parents' marriage was hardly a marriage,...
Read MoreMom of 7- and 9-Year-Old is Angry Toward Ex
Posted on 9/6/1991
EX-WIFE TRIES TO MANIPULATE KIDS, DAD SAYS Q. I am a divorced father of two boys, ages 9 and 7. They look forward to our every-other-weekend visits. Their mother has remarried, and their new...
Read More4-Year-Old Clingy and Whiny after Parent Separation
Posted on 10/21/1990
PARENTS' SPLIT CREATES A CLINGING, WHINY CHILD Q: My husband and I separated several months ago. Ever since then, our usually outgoing, happy, 4-year-old daughter has been clinging and whiny....
Read MoreDivorced Mother of 6- and 8-Year-Old is Ready to Date
Posted on 7/1/1990
WHEN A SINGLE PARENT DATES, KIDS CAN ADJUST Q: I am a single parent with two children, ages 8 and 6. I've been divorced for about six months and am ready to start dating but do not have any...
Read MoreImpact of Divorce and not to Divorce on Children
Posted on 4/29/1990
DIVORCE: IF BEST FOR YOU, IT'S BEST FOR KIDS Q. After 12 years of marriage, we have decided to get a divorce. We recently read an article that said that children from broken homes are at...
Read MoreImpact of Divorce on Children
Posted on 1/15/1989
STRIFE BETWEEN PARENTS HURTS KIDS MOST IN DIVORCE Even though America's rate of divorce has slowed within recent years, it's estimated that nearly 40 percent of all children born in the 1980s...
Read More7-Year-Old Panics When Parents Argue
Posted on 1/1/1989
HEARING PARENTS ARGUE STRIKES FEAR INTO 7-YEAR-OLD Q. Beginning a few months ago, any argument between my husband and me sends our 7-year-old daughter into a panic. When she calms down, she...
Read More8-Year-Old Depressed Over Parents' Separation
Posted on 10/9/1988
IS 8-YEAR-OLD DEPRESSED OVER PARENTS' SEPARATION? Q. My husband and I separated about three months ago, but have remained on fairly good terms. The oldest of out two children, ages 8 and 4,...
Read More4- and 6-Year-Old Do Not Like Mom's Boyfriend
Posted on 6/5/1988
TELL CHILDREN IT'S NORMAL TO RESENT BOYFRIEND Q: I'm a single mother with two children, ages 6 and 4. Their father and I have been divorced for over a year, and I've been involved in a serious...
Read MoreCustody Fights are Hard on Kids
Posted on 8/8/1987
Custody battles are no fun. They're almost always vicious, ugly little affairs that rarely fail to bring out the worst in people. As a psychologist frequently involved in custody...
Read More9-Year-Old Complains About Visiting Dad
Posted on 2/1/1987
9-YEAR-OLD MAY WANT MORE TIME WITH HIS FRIENDS Q: I am a divorced, single mother with one child - an active, well- adjusted 9-year-old son. With few exceptions, he spends every weekend,...
Read MoreRebellious 13-Year-Old Wants to Go Live with Dad
Posted on 12/7/1986
DIVORCE INFLUENCES TWEEN' YEARS Q. I have two children by my previous marriage - an almost 13-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl. I am remarried, but have no children, nor plans for any,...
Read MoreParents Work Together in Parenting Even Though Divorced
Posted on 10/12/1986
DISCIPLINE SHOULD INVOLVE BOTH PARENTS Q: I am a divorced, single mother. My daughter is 14 years old. Occasionally things come up with which I feel I need my ex-husband's support. In the...
Read MoreLay Down The Law When Son Doesn't Want To Visit Dad
Posted on 1/5/1986
LAY DOWN THE LAW WHEN SON DOESN'T WANT TO VISIT DAD Q. I am the divorced and remarried mother of a 5-year-old boy who spends every other weekend with his father. Until recently, Billy has...
Read MoreJoint Custody, Split Custody Differ
Posted on 12/22/1985
ALL AGES CUSTODY JOINT CUSTODY, SPLIT CUSTODY DIFFER I've received several letters and phone calls from readers upset by a column of several weeks past on split custody. Their concerns...
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