Questions

Angry Outbursts from a 3-year-old

Posted on 5/21/2017

Every time I tell my 3 1/2 year old to do something (ex: put your cup up on the table more instead of on the edge, don't jump around in the kitchen, etc.) she crosses her arms and grunts. Or she...

Argumentative 10 Year Old

Posted on 5/11/2017

We have been attempting to correct our 10 year old son's attitude. He argues with EVERYTHING, is so disrespectful, and always has to have the last word. He is also rude to his sister. We have...

9 yo boy needs boom lowered

Posted on 4/13/2017

My youngest son is 9 years old. He has an older brother who is 11 years old. My 9 year has always had a temper/anger problem when things don't go his way. He reacts by having a tantrum. He has...

Mouthy 3-year-old

Posted on 3/4/2017

Recently my 3 and a half -year-old has started negating various statements his dad and I make. Mostly this happens when he doesn't want to do something (It is bedtime/it is NOT bedtime), but also...

Disobedience or Addiction?

Posted on 3/1/2017

Dear John, Our almost-15-yr-old son has been disobeying our rule of no Xbox on school nights but last week was a doozy. When we were away for the weekend, he got his 16-yr-old sister to drive...

Teen Meltdown

Posted on 2/22/2017

I read on here to take a time out before engaging with a teen and making a decision. Then once giving your decision, being a 'robot' when responding. We have an intelligent, 6ft, almost 15 yr old...

Adult children continue to be parented.

Posted on 2/22/2017

Do you have any advise on how to recconect with an estranged adult child who is in their 30's? And yes, I made all the "giving your child self-esteem" mistakes in the 1980-2000 that you speak...

Troubled Young Teen?

Posted on 2/5/2017

This question is in reference to the October 2016 question regarding my 13 year old's act of vandalism. Fast forward 8 months later. He has completed his punishment, but not without having to...

Don't Ask, Do Tell!

Posted on 1/29/2017

I have a 13 year old who has always been defiant. She is bright, and a fantastic kid, but when she is asked to do something she doesn't wan, the fight is on. She will not do what I ask, or will...

What I said...

Posted on 1/27/2017

My seven year old daughter has been correcting me lately. I'll tell her something like " I need you to bring your toys to your bedroom." And she will respond with "You mean stuffed animals." She...

Distraught dad of tweens

Posted on 12/30/2016

Please help - i am the father of a 12 year old girl and a 10 year old boy. They are both spoilt brats who only care about their enjoyment. 1)They are very rude and dont listen. 2)They dont...

16 year old Arguments

Posted on 12/29/2016

My 16 yo daughter will not talk to me when I approach her about an observation I have, a concern re: missed homework or grades. She shuts down immediately, says she doesn't want to talk about...

16 year old Always Gets Her Way

Posted on 12/29/2016

How do I respond to my strong willed 16 yo dtr, who won't take no for an answer. Just today, I told her she could go to a friends for dinner after her drivers ed class today. But it is snowing...

One Little Monkey on the Bed

Posted on 12/18/2016

Hello... We have two daughters...one turned two in September and our youngest will be one in February...within the past couple of days, our two year old has stopped listening to us.. After telling...

7 Year Old Argues, Doesn't Follow Directions

Posted on 10/17/2016

My 7 (almost 8) year old son is a kind boy with a genuinely good heart. With that said, he argues with everything we say, pesters/antagonizes his 3 year old sister incessantly, and can't follow...

Defiant 6 year old

Posted on 7/13/2016

I desperately need help with my almost seven year old girl who will not listen. Recent example- this morning she was told to get out of bed and she didn’t, then the tv (in our room, not hers) was...

Underage Drinker Wannabe

Posted on 6/17/2016

My 14 years old son wants to taste alcohol regularly. He recently told us that he would buy vodka with his money (we indicated that if we ever have a doubt about him buying alcohol/drugs with the...

14-Year-Old and Sex

Posted on 5/3/2016

Our 14 year old daughter was caught beginning to give oral sex to a 14 year old boy she likes. We are horrified. She has been raised in a Christian, 2-parent home and knows our values. I don't...

15 1/2 year doesn't respect parents

Posted on 2/9/2016

our son 15 1/2 is very defiant. he seems to have no respect for authority.. especially to us, mom & dad. what can we do as parents to help him with this?

9 yo Ignore the Drama

Posted on 1/28/2016

We have been using the ticket system for the last few weeks. It has worked very well with a significant increase in good behaviour. However last night our 9 year old became very frustrated...

19 Year Old Home for the Holidays, addendum

Posted on 12/22/2015

This is an add-on to the previous question: I am taking the younger daughter to a college visit tomorrow. Would it be wise to ask her opinion concerning the need for apology, ways to bridge the...

Need Encouragement...

Posted on 11/30/2015

This is a follow-up to my question of 9/9/15 about my 6.5yo kicked out of the garden. We did as you suggested and reduced her target behaviors to prompt obedience and no back-talk, and reduced her...

How do I respond to teen's bad attitude?

Posted on 11/26/2015

Regarding snide remarks, backtalk and surliness from teens, I am having a difficult time distinguishing what to address and what to let drop. Looking back at your responses, I see where we should...

Explanations?

Posted on 10/30/2015

Ps sorry additional part regarding my last question. Is it correct to explain to my child why the things he said are rude or offensive or just tell him its unacceptable and give a...

It's God's Fault

Posted on 10/30/2015

Hi Melinda thank you for your recent advice. The situation with our 9 year old son has gotten worse since last night. Im at my wits end with him . I took him to a church meeting last night. He...

Where did we go wrong?

Posted on 10/24/2015

Our 9 year old son has broken my heart. He told me yesterday that he hates God and church is so boring and also he hates me and wishes he was born in a different family. He said I am so...

Money Woes

Posted on 10/14/2015

My son is nine years old and every year, for his birthday (and sometimes other special occasions), he receives large quantities of money. For example, he received about $250 for his birthday last...

Teens...

Posted on 10/9/2015

17 yr old update Since my last communication our 17 yr old has lived in her room. Comes out to eat when we are not in the house. If I knock on her door I am answered with an aggravated what!!...

3 yo Arguing

Posted on 10/9/2015

I'd like to ask a question about developmental stages. My 3.5 year old has become very argumentative and almost surly in the last few months. If you say day, she says night, almost as if she has...

Doesn't Get It

Posted on 9/19/2015

I have an almost 4 year old son who is becoming increasingly challenging to deal with during the day. It seems that unless we are out of the house, he is more demanding of my attention, quick to...

Share and Share Alike

Posted on 9/18/2015

1st question: What do you recommend in terms of a 1 year old and a 4 year old sharing toys? They can't effectively play together because of their ages. He grabs hers, and she grabs whatever he is...

3 year old Whiner

Posted on 8/27/2015

What do I do with a whining 3year old in public? When at home I put in time out- seems to work. What are your thoughts? ALSO My 3 yr old has started saying a "but....." Phrase when asked to...

Four year old with a Bad Attitude

Posted on 8/4/2015

HI there, Thank you for your quick reply on my previous question about my 4 year old. I have re-started the ticket system targeting refusal to do what mummy/daddy tells her. Previously, I had...

15 yo Disrespect--Should Parent Apologize?

Posted on 7/23/2015

My husband and stepdaughter (15) had an argument. She lives with us full time but violated a rule, was called out on it and she escalated with (what she thought) were hurtful statements. One of...

Four Out of Control

Posted on 7/1/2015

HELP! We have a four year old that we are having major issues with. He is at daycare five days a week, but between daycare and home he is on the ticket program for not doing what he is told. He...

4 yo Tantrums

Posted on 4/27/2015

dealing with 4 year old tantrums My daughter will be 4 in a month's time. She still has issues with tantrums. I am putting her in her room for the rest of the day if she tosses a fit, no matter...

4 yo More Ticket Clarification

Posted on 4/22/2015

Naughty 4 yo part 3 Hi there, I've done your suggestions slightly modified with 3 target behaviours. Whining, refusal to listen, tantrums. With tantrums, she loses all 5 tickets n spends the...

The Case of the Picky Eater

Posted on 4/20/2015

This is a follow-up to my previous question about my 3.5yo picky eater. It's now been a month and he still refuses to eat a single bite of any food he doesn't like. Most dinners he eats the 1 or 2...

Don't Forget...

Posted on 4/15/2015

Hi We have an 8.5 year old daughter who is a really good girl. We've noticed a new trend with her that when something happens that she doesn't like, she starts to cry. Sometimes these are big...

Surly Teen

Posted on 2/9/2015

How should we address general surliness with a teen? She is probably ticked because her electronics are being kept downstairs and she seems stressed over the upcoming prom and who is asking whom,...

Keep the Peace

Posted on 2/8/2015

My boys are 8 years and 34 months old. I need to establish a plan to keep the family peace. Their age gap is wide and the youngest is almost 3, so I need some direction please! My 8 yo picks...

Off with the Pee Guard!

Posted on 1/27/2015

I potty trained my son when he was 19 months and he's now 27 months old. I taught him to pee sitting down with a potty chair with a pretty tall splash guard. I want him to be able to get on the...

6 1/2 yo Tantrums and Disrespect

Posted on 1/5/2015

Our 6.5 year old daughter is very well behaved at school and church. At home it is often a different story. She is very sassy, rude, and disrespectful to her family members. When she does not...

8 yo Won't Take No for an Answer

Posted on 12/10/2014

John often states that when your child doesn't want to do something that he needs to do and asks the question "Why?", that we as parents shouldn't explain our reasoning. Instead we should reply...

18 yo Shutting Parents Out

Posted on 12/4/2014

We need help deciding our response to our 18 year old daughter. She is a freshman currently attending a Bible College and seemly doing quite well. She has a lot of good qualities that make us...

Teenage Defiance

Posted on 11/11/2014

OK, it seems things have come "full circle" again with my 15/16 year old. I had another significant problem/conflict with him about his smart phone and he refused to put it away for the night...

Stepsons and Chaos

Posted on 10/28/2014

I have two stepsons ages 8 and 5, who have behavioral problems. When they visit our home it is total chaos. They say they don't want to be at our house and just want to go back to their moms....

18 year old Family Chaos

Posted on 9/25/2014

(see Previous posts)As you know my twin 18yr daughter went off to live w boyfriend on 8/10/14 I do NOT support that (I completely cut her off financially).she was raised in Christian home..my...

Video Games

Posted on 9/23/2014

I need more help in dealing with my question posted September 15. To my dismay I have come to find out that my almost 19 year old daughter was the one who started my now 12 year old son on the...

Wayward Twins

Posted on 9/2/2014

(See past posts) 18yr old daughter decided to move in w boyfriend(BF) on 08/10/14 even though we said we would NOT support this(NOT Gods plan).. we are NOT the banker any longer=100% of all...

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