Parenting

Shannon's teenage daughter has started using drugs and getting violent with her siblings and mother.   Dr. Laura: "Learn from your mistake with your first child, and don't repeat it with...

Parenting

Michelle's teenage daughter has started to disobey and talk back to her mother, and Michelle would like to know if she handled their recent fight correctly.   Dr. Laura: "Don't miss...

Parenting

When my mom was 20, she got pregnant. Her boyfriend stepped up and proposed to her, but my smart, spiritual, wise mom knew that a young partying college student wasn’t ready to take...

Parenting

Even though her daughter rejects her, Annie keeps trying to help her bratty, snowflake daughter become a happy, successful adult.   Dr. Laura: "Once your child grows up, it's her life to...

Parenting

At the time I had my first son, I was still a teacher and was also an active member of my church. As he became a toddler showing his independence, I stopped teaching (because I didn’t...

Parenting

Krystal's husband says their 4-year-old daughter should not be allowed to play with mommy's makeup, but Krystal remembers loving it too as a child and thinks there's nothing wrong.   Dr....

Parenting

As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I see a fair number of children up to five years old with delays of various kinds. I’ve also noticed the immense value of invested parents in...

Parenting

My triplets left for college two years ago, and as a stay-at-home mom, I was left with only my youngest child. I thought my world would end because being a mom to four was the job I was...

Parenting

Ashley and Thomas are looking for ways to get their preschooler to be more obedient.   Dr. Laura: "You have to be clever and creative when parenting."

Parenting

I started listening to you more than 25 years ago from the back seat of my grandparents' Buick when my younger brother and I would travel with them during the summers. Now that I have...

Parenting

After trying to conceive for three years, my husband and I got pregnant, but lost our baby a few weeks later. During that time, baby showers were torture. Birth announcements and baby...

Parenting

Grace is frustrated that her 15-year-old daughter is a little lazy and doesn't get very good grades.   Dr. Laura: "Sometimes we have to accept that our children won't live up to our...

Parenting

May's 8-year-old son is getting in trouble at school and home for his poor sportsmanship and defiant behavior and punishing him isn't working.   Dr. Laura: "Parents need to model the...

Parenting

With 4 kids (ages 4 to 11), my husband and I don't have a lot of free time to "visit" with each other, so we have to get creative, waiting until we are sure everyone else is asleep. It...

Parenting

Sandi's 16-year-old daughter doesn't want to hear her mother's opinion on her lying, cheating boyfriend.   Dr. Laura: "Being a wishy-washy parent tells kids they can play you."

Parenting

I am blessed to be the at-home, homeschooling mom to three daughters, with number four on the way. Hands-down the best part of mothering is the time I get to spend with them. I love the...

Parenting

It still surprises me when I hear mothers and fathers call who clearly do not want to parent their children! If I didn’t want to follow the rules while living under my parents’ roof,...

Parenting

I often hear you talk on your show about the importance of having an alpha male as a role model for our sons, and that reminded me of a story from years ago. At the time, I had been...

Parenting

Daniel wants to know if it's OK for his two young children to spend each night with him and his wife.   Dr. Laura: "Kids need to grow up respecting the marital bed."

Parenting

Ray's 16-year-old daughter is wondering at what age she can start having sex.   Dr. Laura: "Being ready for sex is about being able to handle the realities and consequences."

Parenting

Years ago, when our son was in junior high, he finished his school year with a typical teen attitude. He had a summer job lined up, but had two weeks between school ending and his...

Parenting

Mindy's son is 18, and she's starting to think maybe she should have another child.   Dr. Laura: "Be grateful for your time as a mom and look forward to discovering what's next."

Parenting

Liz is concerned about how much her children see her using her iPhone and wonders if it will lead to bad habits in them.   Dr. Laura: "The more kids watch adults relying on phones, the...

Parenting

Now that schools are talking about opening up again, I wanted to share a school story from a few years ago. Back then, my kids listened in the car whenever you were on. They sometimes...

Parenting

7-year-old Lila calls Dr. Laura to ask if her dad is wrong to tell her she can't wear short shorts or lip stick.   Dr. Laura: "Your daddy is helping you to look and act like a lady."

Parenting

I have two sons who are now grown. My eldest has always been quiet and respectful. My youngest son was very bright but I always said "He has great brat potential; I have to constantly...

Parenting

Stacey's 18-year-old son has caused a lot of drama in their family, and she's not sure what to do to help him into adulthood.   Dr. Laura: "It's his turn to figure out his life."

Parenting

Ed's daughter married at 18 and, three years later, she wants her parents to help her move out and leave her husband without addressing him properly.   Dr. Laura: "This is an opportunity...

Parenting

I've heard your comments about teaching boys and how they are just wired differently from girls. As some schools prepare to reopen, I thought I’d share a story from the past. At my...

Parenting

Paul's daughter has gained 60 pounds, and he fears that her weight makes him look like a bad father to his extended family.   Dr. Laura: "She's showing you how to be happy in spite of...

Parenting

We wrote this letter to our son upon his graduation from college late last year:   Congratulations on your graduation! We are proud of you and you should feel good about that...

Parenting

Rachel's middle daughter is struggling with health issues, and Rachel admits that she is more lenient on her than the other kids because of her condition.   Dr. Laura: "She needs to know...

Parenting

Michelle's three stepchildren live full time with her and their father, and she feels sorry that their mom isn't in the picture.   Dr. Laura: "Only kind-hearted people are empathetic to...

Parenting

Elizabeth wants to know if she should be concerned about her 11-year-old son holding hands with a girl he has a crush on.   Dr. Laura: "This is the time for mom to relax and dad to have...

Parenting

Melissa has a 2-year-old son who she fears is suffering due to the isolation of the COVID shutdown, but her husband thinks that he won't remember and therefore won't be harmed.   Dr....

Parenting

I’m 65, and my parents divorced when I was only a few months old, so my mother raised my brother and me alone while running a nursery school. I went to an Ivy League college on the east...

Parenting

After continually nagging him, Cindy's adult son is ignoring her calls, and she's not sure if she should continue reaching out to him.   Dr. Laura: "If you want to repair something, you...

Parenting

Here are some of the signs that you're ready to have a baby:

Parenting

About ten years ago, I had two pet finches. They laid several eggs and hatched their chicks and they were very devoted, caring parents. When it’s time for the little ones to leave the...

Parenting

Natalia's young sons are competitive with each other and for her attention and she needs advice on how to respond to them.   Dr. Laura: “Only praise kindness and compassion and let them...

Parenting

My husband and I have been married for 31 years and have 3 grown children. As they were growing up, we were their parents and not their friends. Other parents thought we were too tough...

Parenting

Mark is different from his friends and believes it's a negative that his mother raised him to be a God-fearing, rule-following young man.   Dr. Laura: "People who are too hard on...

Parenting

I wanted to share a funny moment that happened around our dinner table. My ten-year-old daughter slurps her food, talks when her mouth is full and overall has poor posture while eating....

Parenting

Frankie and Lena's mom often loses her temper, and they want her to find better ways to cope with parenthood.   Dr. Laura: "Be mindful of how you feel and communicate in the moment...

Parenting

Suzy is frustrated by her twin 14-year-old daughters who roll their eyes and reject her input and advice.   Dr. Laura: "Lectures turn kids off, but asking questions guides them to think."

Parenting

Marie's 16-year-old daughter has left home to live with her biological father, and Marie wants to go to court to force her to come back home.   Dr. Laura: "Letting her leave could be the...

Parenting

The atmosphere you create at home has the biggest impact on your child's stress level. Kids need time to breathe, be creative on their own, and get lost in their own thoughts. They are...

Parenting

Amber's 13-year-old son has been sexting with a classmate, and Amber and her husband aren't sure how to handle him.   Dr. Laura: "Don't be afraid to be the tough parent your child needs."

Parenting

When we married, my husband was a young, aspiring professional who decided to open his own firm. I was a hard-working registered nurse who had applied to graduate school. I loved my job...

Parenting

Jenn is upset that her adult son spends so much time with her estranged mother.   Dr. Laura: "This is his lack of character, not yours."

Parenting

Sophie's 13-year-old says she hates herself and was caught sneaking out of the house to fool around with a boy.   Dr. Laura: "The boy is her therapy."