co-parenting
Child Middleman for Parent’s Communication
Q: My parents got divorced a few months ago, and our family life has been a mess ever since. When they first separated, my mom started communicating parenting logistics to my dad through me. I didn’t mind at first because it meant they wouldn’t fight, but then my dad started doing the same. It grew…
Unwelcome In-law Opinions
Q: I am a stay at home mom and my eight-year-old son, Sammy, has some behavioral issues. He gets upset very easily and lashes out unpredictably. Through a lot of work, and therapy, he has gotten much better. My wife and I have learned that when he has a meltdown he is too upset to…
Homework Woes!
Q: My child spends so much time on homework and has so little to show for it. He seems to take forever to get rolling with it, gets derailed with anything and everything, whines and complains about doing it, and sometimes even when he does his homework thoroughly and well, he might not turn it…
COVID under 12-years-old
Q: School is ending. Half of our kids are now vaccinated! Woot woot!! We are so grateful to see what we hope is the forever end of Zoom school and kids being kids again. That said, we have children under 12 who aren’t vaccinated yet, and I’m torn. Everyone wants to get back to normal,…
Co-Parenting
Q: My ex drives me crazy. He looks for ways to disrupt my life and make things difficult for me. We have a custody arrangement but he constantly breaks rules and tries to renegotiate agreement details. It’s expensive to have my attorney involved at $400 an hour. Now he’s trying to change upcoming holidays. Honestly…
Should we let our son play tackle football?
Q: My son plays flag football, which I’ve been okay with, but now that he’s about to start high school, he wants to try out for the school’s tackle football team. I know this isn’t the NFL, but I can’t stop thinking about the risks involved, like concussions, and how they can lead to CTE. My…
Is Nesting a Realistic Option for Our Separation?
Q: My husband and I have been drifting apart or years. We’ve come close to divorce so many times, but we have three young kids. I can’t imagine sending them back and forth between houses for the remainder of their childhoods. We’re the ones who can’t make it work. Why should they carry the burden…
When Your Family Is a Bunch of Scrooges
Originally Published in the Lakelands Leader in our advice column The Laudable Life Q: It’s early December and as usual I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things I needs to get done; school parties, work parties, neighborhood parties, gift shopping, family travel, and decorating the house before we go away for the holiday….




