Child Caring

Don't keep absent grandparents a secret

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Dear Barbara, My husband's parents are very difficult and domineering people. When our first child was born 3 years ago, they took issue with some of our decisions. We had some angry words with them and they decided to cut...

When an apology is not offered

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi Barbara, I've had an issue come up recently and I am hoping you can help. My three year old refuses to apologize. In most situations, whatever happened was accidental (stepping on a playmate's foot or splashing water at the...

Grandma, you can set the rules in your house

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My grand daughter lives in Hawaii, they have very liberal discipline attitudes there, I think. She is 12, mouthy, obnoxious, lazy, entitled, and not very pleasant to be around most of the time. Apparently her parents and their friends don't...

Mom dreads the end of school

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hello! I am the mom of two, boy and girl, fourth and second graders. Can you give me some advice? Every year, there is a week or two (this year,almost two) after school ends and before day camps kick in...

This first-born is still a baby herself!

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My 13-month- old will hit/try to climb on her 1-month old sister, I keep pulling them apart.... if I have both of them in my arms or the younger one in arm, my oldest is loving to her but as...

California mom wonders about repeating kindergarten

Fri, 31 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

[Ed's note: This letter has been condensed. ] Hello, I was hoping to get your advice as I am tormented by what to do for our our 5 year old kindergarten daughter and so worried we will hurt her chances...

How to explain mom's long-absent mother?

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi Barbara, I have a 4 year old daughter who is fairly smart, doesn't miss a trick and observant. I'm not sure how to talk to her about the following situation when she eventually brings it up: My mother left...

Could preschool drop-off anxiety be related to kindergarten next year? I'm betting.

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My 5 1/2-year-old daughter has a very difficult time being left at her daycare/preschool each morning. She has been in this facility since she's been 10 weeks old and is familiar and comfortable with all of the teachers and students/kids....

Mom unexpectedly has to go away

Mon, 06 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

So I have a. 2 yr old daughter who is very attached to me. Being that we live on a small island and don't have family there, it's me and my husband that she sees day in and day out...

"I hate you!"

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi Barbara, I read your column often and I'd appreciate your advice on something. My youngest just turned five and has a pretty headstrong personality. This is good in many ways -- he is very determined and sticks with things...

5-year-old's night wakings

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi Barbara. My 5-year-old daughter has suddenly started waking up at night and can't get back to sleep. This has happened 3 or 4 times in the last few weeks and before that she was a solid, sound, sleeper for...

Respond to pinching quickly and consistently

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My 2 year old grandson DOB 4/18/11 is an only child, no others on the way. He pinches people; his parents, and other adults. He gets a certain look of mischief (a little scary) before he pinches. His parents have...

Explaining your surrogacy to your child

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

How do you explain surrogacy to small children? Due to cancer, my cousin can no longer carry a baby. I would love to be able to do this for her, but I dont know how to explain it to my...

How can she help her 8th grader with an imminent move?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Dear Barbara, I will be moving from Richmond, VA to an undecided location in Arizona very, very soon. This same situation happened four years ago, but was switched, We moved from Arizona to Virginia in November of 2009, when my...

Coping with tantrums

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Barbara, Any advice for handling toddler tantrums? My 18 month old son has some trouble with transitioning from activities. For example, if it's time to leave the park, he'll flop himself on the ground and kick and scream. Or when...

Child's post-Marathon fears bubbling up

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Dear Barbara, I hope you can answer this quickly!! In the wake of the Marathon bombings, our 9 year-old son has told us that he "absolutely will not go" to Red Sox games. We always go to at least one...

Should she invite the mean girl to her birthday party?

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi. My daughter is in third grade and has been having friendship issues. She goes to a private school where the classes are small and the girls are together for 12 years. My daughter has had one friend that she...

Should 6-year-old travel cross-country with dad she doesn't know well?

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

[This letter has been condensed. BFM] My wife and I find ourselves in a dilemma with her daughters dad. He would like to take his daughter across the country by driving for a vacation from North Carolina to...

This mom needs to leave

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

[This letter has been condensed and edited. BFM] My husband has PTSD and ADHD we have a 2 year old little girl. I'm struggling with whether or not it's time to leave. [I keep hearing] "he has PTSD --...

Preschooler's acting-out could be kindergarten related

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Barbara, Our five year old son has always been very laid back and calm. Lately he has been acting out more with, "I can't hear you," and turning his head. He often just won't listen or comply and pushes back...

This little boy sounds troubled

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My 5- year- old son recently came home from school with a note saying he pushed another student in the stomach, when I asked him about it he completely lied to me. I had to get the real story from...

Mom, you're taking first-grade way too seriously

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Hi Barbara. I love your level headed approach to your parenting advice. I wonder what you can tell me about this: my first grade daughter just doesn't seem comfortable trying her best. Her teacher says she puts in a very...

Grandson who isn't talking to her is driving grannie nuts

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My 8 year old grandson will not speak to me. In fact, he seems mortified if I even approach him to speak. He is like this with all the grown-up members of our family and other adult friends of...

Retention is never an easy decision

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

[This letter has been condensed. BFM] Hi Barbara, my son Alex is 6 1/2 and will turn 7 in June 22... He has an IEP [Individual Educational Plan] for speech, sensory integration and developmental delay. He was recently diagnosed as...

She will grow out of her fear of the potty, honest!

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

My daughter is 3 years 4 months, bright, articulate, wonderful in every way. She has been potty trained since 20 months and does not have accidents. (She is a heavy sleeper though and wears a pullup at night which is...