John's Articles
A Family is a Family
Posted on 3/20/2007
FORGET ADJECTIVES; ANY CHILD IS A CHILD, ANY FAMILY IS A FAMILY Parents frequently ask if I have written books on adjective-children (e.g. adopted children) or adjective-families (e.g. blended...
Read MoreMarriage Needs Outrank Child's Needs
Posted on 7/5/2005
A MARRIAGE'S NEEDS USUALLY OUTRANK CHILD'S Q: After 15 years of marriage, my wife and I are considering starting a family. She is 43, and I am 45. We waited this long because of health...
Read More5-Year-Old Should Entertain Self
Posted on 4/13/2004
5-YEAR-OLD SHOULD ENTERTAIN SELF Q: My 5-year-old son is a real people person. Several times a week he cries because he wants someone to play with him. I set aside 30-45 minutes each day to...
Read More5-Year-Old Needs to Occupy Self
Posted on 10/7/2003
SHOW KIDS THEY'RE SMART ENOUGH TO OCCUPY THEMSELVES Q: I'm a single mom who works full-time from home. At noon, I pick up my 5-year-old from her half-day kindergarten program. Unfortunately,...
Read More20-Year-Old Doesn't Like Parents' Restrictions and Rules
Posted on 3/25/2003
ADULT CHILD WINS POWER STRUGGLE Q: We have a 20-year-old daughter, an only child, who feels we have no right to restrict her behavior. For one, she refuses to go to church with us. Her curfew...
Read More7-Year-Old Sleeping with Parents
Posted on 2/4/2003
PERMISSIVE PARENTS NEED TO SHOW BOY WHO'S BOSS Q: How do you get a child out of your bed? Six months ago, I allowed our 7-year-old son and only child to sleep with me a few nights while my...
Read MoreMom Does Not Like Her Friend's 5-Year-Old Bratty Only Child
Posted on 5/25/1999
SHOW CHILDREN WHAT IT COSTS TO ADOPT THEIR FRIENDS' BAD HABITS Q. I have a friend whose 5-year-old daughter is an only child. My children adore the ground she walks on even though she's a...
Read MoreParents of 2-Year-Old Question If They Should Have More Children
Posted on 11/11/1997
WITH ONLY CHILD, GET OTHER KIDS' HELP Q. My husband and I have a 2-year-old boy. We question whether we want to have any more children. We'd like to know whether you have any particular...
Read MoreDon't Define Child by Category
Posted on 11/18/1994
IT'S BEST NOT TO DEFINE A CHILD BY A CATEGORY Peruse the Child Care section of any major chain bookstore today and you will find books on the ADD (attention deficit disorder) child, the LD...
Read More9-Year-Old is a Perfectionist
Posted on 2/5/1993
GIRL, 9, HAS TO HAVE EVERYTHING PERFECT Q. I have a 9-year-old daughter -- an only child - who is a perfectionist, and it's driving me crazy. For example, rather than simply correcting a...
Read More5-Year-Old Only Child
Posted on 5/29/1988
SETTING NEW LIMITS CAN HELP ONLY CHILD SYNDROME Q. After reading your recent column on the "only child syndrome," my husband and I decided the description fit our 5-year-old son. We have, it...
Read MoreRaising an Only Child
Posted on 10/11/1987
AVOID THE PITFALLS OF REARING ONLY CHILD Q. My husband and I were both married in our mid-30s and now, five years later, have a 2-year-old boy. We have tentatively decided not to have any more...
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,...
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