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."

Parenting

Cyber-bullying is no joke. Several years ago, it happened to a girl in my son's high school. Her ex-boyfriend created a derogatory Facebook page about her, and the jokes and teasing...

Parenting

I grew up with divorced parents and a deadbeat dad, and I was a daycare kid. I hated it. I quit my job 13 years ago when my first son was born. I was in my late 20s, and dedicated...

Parenting

Lindsey's 19-year-old son was diagnosed as a sociopath, and she's wondering if there is anything that she can do for him.   Dr. Laura: "Not accepting reality doesn't help anyone."

Parenting

My 10-year-old daughter is a social butterfly and has always loved being the center of attention. Recently, she woke up in a very cheerful mood, and decided that that day was going to...

Parenting

I am one of five kids, and when we were growing up, we all had clean clothes to wear and three home-cooked meals to eat every day. It was only when I went off to college that I realized...

Parenting

When Jonathan called a few weeks ago about his kids' fighting, Dr. Laura suggested that his competitive marriage was fueling the sibling rivalry. Now Jonathan wants to know the “next...

Parenting

This is a lovely poem from Tova:   My child has a mom Because I decided long ago That I'd be there to raise her I'd be there to watch her grow

Parenting

Jen's bad childhood resulted in her being emotionally abusive to her own daughter, and now she's unsure how to handle her daughter's anger.   Dr. Laura: "Take full responsibility for her...

Parenting

My brother was asleep on our couch, and my husband and I were sprawled out on our living room carpet watching TV while our newborn lay between us. We freaked when we looked down at our...

Parenting

Beyond typical personality quirks, I believe the breakdown of the family is largely to blame for the entitlement problems of young adults today. They need to be responsible,...

Parenting

After calling Dr. Laura about her 23-year-old daughter's plans to shack up with her new boyfriend, Donna shares the text she crafted with Dr. Laura's help...