418
votes
My wife wants a homosexual child
I would strongly suggest some couple therapy before you bring a child into this situation. I worked in a therapy clinic and saw the outcome of overbearing/unreasonable mothering (and fathering). ...
- 2,051
285
votes
My wife wants a homosexual child
Perhaps I have some expertise on this, as someone who has raised one straight and two queer children...
You don't get to decide that. She doesn't either. Yes, you can indeed try not to overly gender ...
- 2,980
233
votes
What can I as a teenager do about my insanely strict parents?
Sit them down for a big, honest conversation. Don't make it about what you want, though. Make it about what they want, and especially ask them, honestly, how they think what they are doing right now ...
- 8,315
148
votes
Am I interrupting my husband's parenting?
I was the oldest of six kids. My youngest brother was born when I was 18. By the time I escaped to college, I knew all about babies. I could change a diaper in fifteen seconds flat (well, okay, the ...
- 9,007
100
votes
Is it ok for parents to kiss and romance with each other while their 2- to 8-year-old child watches?
From everything that I can find online, it is a positive thing to show affection in front of your kids. It models affection to your children, and it makes them feel more secure https://www....
- 9,007
96
votes
How to tell my parents I want to marry my girlfriend
First up; your parents can protest and disallow it all they want, you're an adult and there is nothing they can really do to stop you from marrying whomever you want and living wherever you want. So ...
- 8,315
80
votes
Accepted
What would you do if you are pretty sure your son is heading towards a disastrous marriage?
If my daughter came home with a nice person or clearly the wrong guy:
I'd ask her conversationally what she sees in him and I'd listen.
I'd have him over to our home as often as possible -- dinner, a ...
- 17.4k
76
votes
Why is trying to talk children out of how they feel a bad idea?
The definition you've likely found was the definition of talking something out. "to settle something by discussion: Let's not get mad. Let's just talk it out. Please, let's talk out this matter calmly....
- 955
72
votes
My wife wants a homosexual child
Is my wife overreacting or am I wrong here?
I don't think you're wrong. It seems reasonable - even admirable - to raise a child encouraging any beneficial interests they have regardless of gender-...
- 72.2k
71
votes
How can I be more sympathetic towards my children when they are injured?
I do not like my behavior.
Parenting is difficult at every stage for somewhat different reasons. Children aren't miniature adults, especially at your child's age. They don't think or process like ...
- 72.2k
71
votes
My partner's pregnant with her second child (my first) and shows no emotions. How can I help bring that excitement out of her?
Pregnancy and how it affects the mother is an intense stew of physical and hormonal changes. Each child may come with a different "stew" recipe. Sounds like the father of her original child didn't ...
- 2,159
69
votes
Are my parents right to give me a severe punishment for being brought home by the police drunk? I am 16
Your parents are being lenient
I'm not sure where you live, but in the State of NJ, the penalties for underage drinking are a fine between $500-$1,000 and imprisonment for up to 6 months.
You've ...
- 1,940
66
votes
What can I as a teenager do about my insanely strict parents?
OK, this may take some time but it could get you a bit of freedom.
Tell your parents that you want to get a job when you turn 16. Use several excuses like, "I want to save up for college," "To get a ...
- 1,366
57
votes
Am I interrupting my husband's parenting?
If by interrupting, you mean undermining your husband's parenting, yes, you are doing that. It doesn't mean that your husband is always right or that your approach is wrong; it only means that you ...
- 72.2k
57
votes
I'm doing work that should get me some money, but my parents don't pay me for the work I do and I don't like that. How should I deal with this?
TL:DR: Life isn't fair; someday soon, you will be the one supporting yourself and deciding how to spend your time. Until then, try to negotiate the best deal you can for yourself while meeting some of ...
- 72.2k
56
votes
My husband, who is my teen daughter's step father feels bad that he can't have a closer relationship with my daughter
Kids love their parents. This is true the vast majority of the time, even when the parent is abusive and manipulative to an extraordinary degree. Therefore it is extremely difficult to form a close ...
- 3,203
56
votes
How to work-at-home given no daycare
We're fortunate to have somewhat older children, who need only short attention bursts followed by longer periods of working independently. However, with a 14 month old, you're not going to get that!
...
- 63.5k
55
votes
How to tell my parents I want to marry my girlfriend
I really like everything about Erik's answer.
The only things I would add is that you have time. If the relationship is right, time will not harm it. Take your time, finish your education and let ...
- 17.4k
52
votes
How to protect my child from friend's over protective father?
Can you talk to your son's friend?
Honestly, I think the belief that you can't judge another person's parenting is not true. Certainly there are things where it doesn't much matter - table manners, ...
- 2,995
50
votes
Accepted
Convince my wife that the flu vaccine is good for our child
It's possible your wife is mixing the Hygiene Hypothesis with vaccinations. They're unrelated; the Hygiene Hypothesis is related specifically to children getting a particular virus (RSV) before they ...
- 63.5k
49
votes
Why do I have negative feelings about my mother?
I don't think you hate your Mother as strongly as you think you do. We always get angry with those that are near us. It seems to be the easiest way to vent.
I remember being 16 and the reason why is ...
- 2,090
48
votes
What can I as a teenager do about my insanely strict parents?
I really don't know what to do anymore, I just don't think that I can live like this any longer.
First of all, I want to assure you that you most certainly can live like this, even though it might ...
- 683
47
votes
Daughters refusing to go home with my ex their mother
Your priority has to be the safety of your children. They are not safe living with their Mom. So if at all possible you need to get them moved in with you. You don't say what kind of a place you now ...
- 10.6k
46
votes
Is it ok to let my 3 month old drop her head a few inches during 'tummy time'?
This is the result of a normal developmental stage, perhaps made more noticeable in your case by having a baby who started rolling earlier than average, and your baby isn't likely to get severely hurt ...
- 7,894
45
votes
How do my husband and I get over our fear of having another difficult baby?
I wonder if everyone goes through this and I'm just weak and bad at coping.
No, you're not weak, and you're not bad at coping. For most parents who have had a traumatic first child, what you're going ...
- 72.2k
43
votes
How to tell my parents I want to marry my girlfriend
You're twenty and you're trying to cement rocky relations between your parents and your long-distance girlfriend. Admittedly it's not an easy task, even at my stage of life.
First of all, there are ...
- 371
42
votes
My wife wants a homosexual child
Oh dear, this is going to end up in tears.
First you need understanding, then you can argue.
I would suggest to discuss with your wife the mass of documentation (articles, social media posts, ...
- 2,570
42
votes
My wife wants a homosexual child
I'm going to take a slightly stronger position than most of the other people here. I'm keeping in mind the policy to be nice and simply objectively describing the seriousness of the situation.
There ...
- 3,255
42
votes
Daughters refusing to go home with my ex their mother
What country are you in? Family law changes depending on country (and down to a state level in the USA)
However this is a pretty terrible situation for your children, there are drugs, abusers and they ...
- 2,322
39
votes
My partner's pregnant with her second child (my first) and shows no emotions. How can I help bring that excitement out of her?
If there's one thing I'd communicate to a new parent-to-be, it's to completely clear out your expectations. Having expectations sets you up for disappointment, because nothing in parenting is like ...
- 63.5k
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