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...

Parenting

Ellie and her brother are competitive and fight a lot, and she and her dad call in to ask Dr. Laura for help.   Dr. Laura: "Your children are mimicking your competitive marriage."

Parenting

I was a strong-willed teenager, and I am so thankful my parents chose to parent me instead of trying to be my friend. I grew up very privileged with nice things, and I went through a...

Parenting

Since he was a toddler, my son has had a quick temper, and has always wanted to have the last word. At age 4, we put him and his older sister in Tae Kwon Do, which taught me something...

Parenting

Susan is paying for her son's college apartment, and she's angry about how messy and dirty he keeps it.   Dr. Laura: "Focus on the more important aspects of your relationship."

Parenting

Before the pandemic, my husband and I decided to homeschool our two sons. Now that we’re ALL home, we have so many things to talk about, and I know exactly what they’re learning and...

Parenting

Despite Amy's objections, her 20-year-old daughter is spending 3-4 nights a week with her boyfriend at his parents' home.   Dr. Laura: "Kids who earn their own way get to make all of the...

Parenting

I delivered my first daughter naturally, and my mother stayed with me after I came home from the hospital. My arms were so tired from pushing that I was happy (thanks to my husband and...

Parenting

I have a funny story to share about my son when he was around two-years-old. I took him with me when I went out to lunch with my mother-in-law. At the restaurant we were teaching him...

Parenting

A long time ago, before I started kindergarten, my mother and I entered a dime store in a small Seattle suburb. As we checked out, we passed those shelves with gum, candy, and sundries...

Parenting

I remember from a long time ago that you had a solution involving hand-holding when kids fought with each other. My daughter has two girls ages 10 and 12 who constantly fight, so I told...

Parenting

In part two of this Call of the Day, Jill and Curtis worry that their son could be manipulative and dangerous.   Dr. Laura: "Don't keep anyone dangerous in your home."

Parenting

Thirty years ago, my mother was dying of breast cancer. At the time, I was 36 weeks pregnant and I flew out to see her before she died (back then, they still let you on a plane at that...

Parenting

Jill and Curtis fear their 18-year-old son is using his mental illness as an excuse for his poor choices and behavior.   Dr. Laura: "Raise your boy to be a man."

Parenting

17-year-old Collin has been sneaking out of the house to hang out with friends because he doesn't like his parents' rules.   Dr. Laura: "The person with responsibility has the power."

Parenting

I always listen carefully when you have children who call, because I admire and respect how you speak with them. You recently asked a young boy to figure out when “three months from...

Parenting

My parents divorced when I was three-years-old. They fought often and talked poorly about each other to us kids. My escape was to play with dolls, and my biggest fantasy was that I’d be...

Parenting

I’m a stay-at-home mommy, and now I’m also teacher to my two boys during the pandemic. They had been in private school, which I thought was better than public school, but teaching them...

Parenting

My son will turn 16 at the end of the year and has been dating a girl of the same age. During the pandemic, physical contact between them is minimal, but I recently caught my son...

Parenting

My 13-year-old son and I were driving home when he asked me “Mom, if you called into the Dr. Laura show, what would you ask her?”  I immediately responded that I would call to thank you.

Parenting

I was hired by a day care center at the age of 16 as an assistant teacher. When I was hired, I was told I was legally too young to be there, but "they needed the help." That was my...

Parenting

Back in the 70s, when my son was a year old and I was a stay-at-home mom, my friend who was a working mom talked me into a girls' day with shopping and lunch.  She said I could leave my...

Parenting

This week we're listening to the Top Call of the Day episodes of All-Time!! Kay’s daughter is seeking financial assistance for her upcoming wedding but there's one BIG problem ...    Dr....

Parenting

This week we're listening to the Top Call of the Day episodes of All-Time!! Casey tells Dr. Laura that he’s using what she preaches to raise his child right.    Dr. Laura: "I'm earning...

Parenting

My 21-year-old daughter and I listened recently when a family was having trouble with their son using his cell phone at night.  My daughter was shocked that the parents didn’t know how...

Parenting

Chris has been given the silent treatment since expressing unhappiness with her 27-year-old daughter dating a deadbeat dad.   Dr. Laura: "Your daughter is weak; you’ve lost this kid…for...

Parenting

Joe’s 18 and 21-year-old sons are both living at home and he's concerned they'll never become responsible adults.   Dr. Laura: "Present two choices; contribute or 'you’re out!'"

Parenting

My 22-year-old son just left our house in tears.  We finally cut the cord on him.  After a few years of second chances, which turned into thirty “second chances,” we had reached the end...

Parenting

When I was growing up in Mexico, I always heard that a man with “Mama-itis” (what you call a Mama’s boy) was not a good thing.  My husband and I have two sons, ages 10 and 16.  Even...

Parenting

Andrea thanks Dr. Laura for guiding her while raising her son as a single mom and avoiding wrongdoing.   Dr. Laura: "That is an amazing woman [ROLE MODEL]!" 

Parenting

As a family of five, weathering the pandemic has been very hard.  My husband used to travel weekly for his job, so having him home 24/7 has been an adjustment.  His relationship with...

Parenting

Frankly, too many parents today seem almost pathologically concerned with their kids being popular and socially accepted. They go along with things that are against their better...

Parenting

Rebecca wants to know if she should pursue removing her adopted children’s name from their bio-dad’s obituary.   Dr. Laura: "Names don’t matter…they are YOUR kids." 

Parenting

Gaile’s 23-year-old granddaughter, who she has raised, refuses to listen to her “words of wisdom.”   Dr. Laura: "It’s time for her to leave the nest."