Parenting

For fifteen years, I had a large family childcare in my home (14 children plus my own). I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. I was helping families to keep their children...

Parenting

Amy and Jason ask Dr. Laura how best to guide their young daughter away from making some of the mistakes that her female relatives have made.   Dr. Laura: "Teach your daughter acceptable...

Parenting

Coliese questions her choice to keep tracking her adult children’s locations to calm her worries.   Dr. Laura: "You don’t need surveillance for your adult children to know you love them."

Parenting

Recently, my ten-year-old son and I were talking about our family. I asked him, “Do you think I love Dad?” He said “Yes.” So, I asked, “What makes you think that?” He replied “Because you...

Parenting

Should Jim and Bonnie pay for part of their son's wedding even though he is disappointing them by living with his fiancé and planning to change his last name to initials after marriage?   ...

Parenting

A listener sent me this brilliant story and I thought I'd share it with the rest of you.

Parenting

Jerome is an older dad with a 9-year-old son who worries about death and living without his father.   Dr. Laura: "Remind your son that you're teaching him how to handle life on his own and...

Parenting

Cara and her husband would like to start a family, and she calls Dr. Laura for tips on how to help ensure they're ready.   Dr. Laura: "Approach parenthood as a team with a plan for the...

Parenting

Should Susan give her opinion or keep her mouth shut about her son who wants to live with his girlfriend for a year before he proposes?   Dr. Laura: "Shacking up is self-centered....

Parenting

Ramon is upset that, instead of giving unconditional love, his 22-year-old son will only have a relationship with him if he agrees to go to therapy and AA.   Dr. Laura: "The quality of your...

Parenting

Heather is a single mom who says her son needs to course-correct, and she wonders if military school is the best option.   Dr. Laura: "Boys need the influence of strong males."

Parenting

Michael's daughter calls and texts him several times a day to vent about her marriage trouble, but he knows it's not helping her.   Dr. Laura: "Encouraging her to seek professional help is...

Parenting

Cynthia and her husband do not agree on the proper way to parent their kids, and it's damaging their relationship.   Dr. Laura: "It's hard to be a good parent when mom and dad are at odds"

Parenting

I had a mom who chose to climb the corporate ladder rather than raise her children. Growing up, I hardly ever saw her. We were left with babysitters or relatives while my parents were...

Parenting

Ron's daughter falsely accused a boy in her class of hitting her, and Ron would like Dr. Laura's advice on how to handle the situation.   Dr. Laura: "Teach her that character should never...

Parenting

When my son was in fifth grade, he was an excellent student, but struggled in his “keyboarding” class (that’s what we used to call “typing” class). So, I started to sit near him while he...

Parenting

Patty worries that her daughter is too young and introverted to go to a large college far from home.   Dr. Laura: "Let your daughter go so she can put the things you've taught her to use."

Parenting

My husband and I have twin boys, and we recently moved to a state that had a lower cost of living and good public schools (the public and private schools where we lived before were...

Parenting

April's teenage daughter has some disabilities and insists that her parents should be lenient on her because of them.   Dr. Laura: "Guide your daughter to make wise decisions despite life's...

Parenting

Jen says her two teenage children constantly challenge her and reject her advice.   Dr. Laura: "Young adults earn power only as they become responsible for themselves."

Parenting

Susan says she's concerned that her daughters are bickering and arguing because that's what they see their parents doing.   Dr. Laura: "It's more satisfying to be loved than perceived to be...

Parenting

Heather needs Dr. Laura's advice for how to guide her daughter out of the destructive behavior of posting provocative pictures on social media.   Dr. Laura: "Encourage your daughter to...

Parenting

I’ve listened to you my entire life and the only piece of advice I didn’t listen to was as it pertained to giving my children electronic devices with internet access. We are good and...

Parenting

I recently stumbled on a handwritten Valentine from my oldest son (who’s now an adult). It was written years ago when he was a young teen. Colored in crayons on the front to look like it...

Parenting

Is Sarah's only child truly not interested in trying new activities, or is he reluctant because he fears disappointing his father?   Dr. Laura: "Your approval is your child's greatest...

Parenting

One day you read a section of your children’s book “Why Do You Love Me?” to a caller, and I thought it was so wonderful, I bought it immediately. I am a stay-at-home mom to two boys, and I...

Parenting

What can Joy do about her teenage son who is failing despite being bright because he skips school and doesn't turn in his homework?   Dr. Laura: "Hug your mom and say, “The most important...

Parenting

My son was about seven when he lied about something not that serious – brushing his teeth. We talked about the character of someone who tells the truth, how they can be depended on, how...

Parenting

I read this touching email over the air last week. This is a better answer to the cost of daycare than I've ever given. The explanation I give about daycare when I consolidate it is "it's...

Parenting

Lindsey is worried that her 10-year-old daughter needs too much reassurance from her.   Dr. Laura: "It's a wonderful thing to have a mom to learn from."

Parenting

My wife and I have always found great parenting advice in the pre-flight instructions given by flight attendants, that is, that parents should put their oxygen masks on first in case of an...

Parenting

Sabrina's 13-year-old is encountering some nasty teen drama, and Sabrina wants to shield her from any pain.   Dr. Laura: "Learning to deal with negative situations is part of life."

Parenting

Matthew says his daughter is constantly putting herself down, and he's looking for ways to help improve her self-esteem.   Dr. Laura: "Kids like attention even when it's for negative...

Parenting

I recently came across a poem I had cross-stitched into a wall hanging that was in a prominent location in my house when my kids were little, and I thought you would appreciate it. The...

Parenting

How can Leroy help his daughter overcome her anxiety when she performs less than perfectly in school and sports?   Dr. Laura: "Illustrate to your children that people don't have to be...

Parenting

Ben never married the mother of his first son and would like advice on how to make him more “comfortable” when he visits Ben's new wife and 5-month-old.   Dr. Laura: "Help your son express...

Parenting

Michelle feels anxious about the safety of her two college-aged daughters and doesn't know how to handle her fears about something bad happening to them.   Dr. Laura: "Bring more joy into...

Parenting

Children can be very literal in the way they interpret what you tell them. I wanted to share a few of my children’s comments.

Parenting

After hearing Dr. Laura's message about the negative effects of daycare, Todd changed his hours to spend more time with his son and says he sees huge improvements.   Dr. Laura: "It makes a...

Parenting

Jane knows that she can no longer be in control when it comes to her adult daughter, but she tries to tell her what to do anyway.   Dr. Laura: "Give advice only when you're asked."

Parenting

After 10 years, Sue's son is toying with the idea of switching sports, and she wants to make sure advises him correctly.   Dr. Laura: "Some old comforts may be relinquished when you embrace...

Parenting

When I heard you tell a caller to “listen to your kids,” it struck a nerve with me. Children and spouses both love attention.   At the park today, a toddler was playing on the playground...

Parenting

My sister-in-law and I both come from families that have a lot of money. We married brothers who also have a lot of money. I grew up with a couple of nannies, and I didn’t care for them....

Parenting

When my son was four-and-a-half, he loved going to his grandparents’ home (my parents), and every time I’d pick him up to go back to our house, he would have a crying, begging episode –...

Parenting

When I was growing up, I always heard “you can do anything you want to if you try hard enough.” My eight-year-old son, who is a pretty good baseball player, asked me “Dad, do you think I...

Parenting

Three years ago, my wife and I were stressed out and both working full time. I was listening to you as I was driving from my well-paying job to pick up my kids from daycare. You were...

Parenting

My wife and I have four children, 3 years old and under. One day, she and I decided to risk “sleeping in” a little bit. At about 7:30 am, when we decided to wake up, we couldn’t find our...

Parenting

Brandon is wondering if he should reward his smart, kind, well-behaved 16-year-old with a car.   Dr. Laura: "Don't deprive your son of the pride that comes with working hard for his first...

Parenting

My husband and I are new listeners. We’ve been married for 34 years and have no children of our own, but he has three adult daughters. They grew up 2,000 miles away from him, and we had...

Parenting

Sara asked one of her sons to turn in his brother's forgotten homework assignment and she's upset with him that he failed to do so.   Dr. Laura: "Set the right example for your boys by...

Parenting

After raising four children with my wife, I have learned the following critical roles of a dad: