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February 25, 2010 - Mother considering divorce and how
it might affect her children
February 11, 2010 - Pre-teens grades slipping because
of texting and video games
February 8, 2010 - Mother worried about 15 year old
getting pregnant
February 1, 2010 - Mother in conflict with 15 year old
daughter
January 21, 2010 - Disrespectful Dad
January 14, 2010 - 2 year old diagnosed with autism
January 7, 2010 - New Year's Wishes
December 24, 2009 - Christmas message
December 21, 2009 - Nine month old squeals in public
December 17, 2009 - Mom fighting with teenage son
December 14, 2009 - Custodial Grandparents do not
discipline grandson
December 3, 2009 - Toddler likes to run around naked
November 30, 2009 - Different parenting styles makes
mother the bad guy
November 22, 2009 - 15 year old wants to decorate her
room but has bad taste
November 19, 2009 - Parents reluctant to take 2 year
old to church
November 16, 2009 - Kids want a kitten
November 9, 2009 - Daughter obsessed with popular
singer
October 29, 2009 - Latchkey kids
October 26, 2009 - 10 year old daughter blinking a lot,
stress?
October 22, 2009 - How do you get kids to eat more
fruits and vegetables
October 19, 2009 - Pre-teens have developed
expensive tastes
October 8, 2009 - Teen daughter's friend is secretly
pregnant
September 28, 2009 - Mother of two can't seem to get
organized
September 24, 2009 - Family in a financial mess
September 21, 2009 - 15 year old daughter has bad
breath
September 17, 2009 - Pregnant stepdaughter giving
stepmom a hard time
September 14, 2009 - 8 year old having problems
making friends
September 10, 2009 - Young mother taking parenting
classes and stressed out
September 7, 2009 - 8 year old is having behavioral
problems
September 3, 2009 - 2 year old becomes an escape
artist
August 31, 2009 - 10 year old with negative attitude
has no friends
August 27, 2009 - 6 year old in kindergarten has start
to poop in his pants
August 24, 2009 - Mother of toddlers tries time-out
August 20, 2009 - 18 year old living at home but staying
out late frequently
August 17, 2009 - Divorced mother wants to date, but
14 year old daughter resisting
August 13, 2009 - 18 year old son wants to quit college
and be a rock star
August 10, 2009 - Child has a stuttering problem
August 6, 2009 - Grandmother concerned that mother
should stay home with 18 month old
August 3, 2009 - 2 year old is a picky eater
July 30, 2009 - Babysitter concerned with 6 year old
grabbing attention
July 27, 2009 - 14 year old daughter avoiding mother
July 23, 2009 - Mom grieving over lost child
July 20, 2009 - Mom wants to keep her kids from
becoming overweight
July 16, 2009 - 5 year old is distracted and always late
July 13, 2009 - Mother of teens wants another baby,
Dad does not
July 10, 2009 - 14 year old upset over parent divorce
July 6, 2009 - New mother reluctant to breast feed
July 2 - 2009 - Black women giving child up for adoption
to white parents
June 28, 2009 - 6 year old stealing
June 25, 2009 - Daughter-in-law can't discipline her
children
June 22, 2009 - Father injured and can't care for
daughter
June 18, 2009 - Father's day reminder
June 15 , 2009 - Son is a college grad but can't find a job
June 11, 2009 -- 15 year old daughter in an abusive
relationship
June 8, 2009 - Ex-husband's wife is too permissive
June 1, 2009 - Should 14 year old son cut the grass for
free
May 28, 2009 - Shy 8 year old in her sister's shadow
May 25, 2009 - Two year old becomes whirling dervish
May 21, 2009 - How to entertain the kids when the
family has to cut back
May 18, 2009 - 5 year kicking and screaming in
pre-school
May 15, 2009 - 13 year old doesn't like how she looks
May 11, 2009 - Single woman considers artificial
insemination
May 7, 2009 - Husband is cheap with the family
April 30, 2009 - 3 year old son diagnosed with autism
April 27, 2009 - 15 year old son may be smoking
marijuana
April 20, 2009 - Mother of pre-schoolers worried about
lead paint in an old house
April 16, 2009 - 14 year old sneaking out to a party
April 13, 2009 - Granddaughter with behavior problems
April 6, 2009 - Mother of toddlers not sure about
boyfriend moving in
April 2, 2009 - 3 year old has nightmares
March 29, 2009 - Exhausted Mom needs some help
March 26, 2009 - Son wants to hang out with friends,
not younger brother
March 23, 2009 - 12 year old son spends most of his
time on the computer
March 19, 2009 - New baby won't stop crying
March 16, 2009 - 12 year old son with graphic magazines
March 12, 2009 - 16 year old rejects advice
March 5, 2009 - 4 year old daughter throwing tantrums
March 2, 2009 - 17 year old wants to go to spring break
February 26 - 4 year old daughter seems overweight
February 23 - Youngest daughter may be pregnant
February 19, 2009 - 3 year old pinches younger sister
February 16, 2009 - Kids like to sleep in parents bed
February 12, 2009 - 15 year old boy won't go to school
February 9, 2009 - Mom wants to give Gardasil to 12
year old daughter
February 5, 2009 - Disrespectful 8 year old girl, taking
Concerta
February 2, 2009 - 5 year old with developmental delays
and ADHD
January 29, 2009 - 7 year old son trying to light fires
January 26 - 2009 - New Mom is insecure about not
working
January 22, 2009 - 15 year old daughter wants to be a
vegetarian
January 19- 2009 - 12 year old developmentally delayed
- lacking social skills.
January 15, 2009 - Impact of divorce on children
January 12, 2009 - Pre-teen daughters will soon be
dating
January 8, 2009 - 3 year old is insecure about newborn
January 5, 2009 - Nine year old wants to buy racey
clothes
January 1, 2009 - Mother is unable to nurse new baby
December 29, 2008 - Kids act differently for Mom than
Dad
December 18, 2008 - 42 year old woman pregnant, child
has downs syndrome
December 15, 2008 - 13 year old grand daughter lying
about meeting a boy
December 11, 2008 - Mom feels left out of the life of her
4 year old
December 8, 2008 - 12 year old wants an allowance
December 4, 2008 - Teen Romance, 14 year old with a
boyfriend
December 1, 2008 - Husband disrespectful of Mom
November 24, 2008 - Financial problems at Christmas
November 20, 2008 - Mom fells isolated and depressed
is in a new city
November 17, 2008 - 7 year old having night terrors
November 13, 2008 - Mother smokes but wants to quit.
November 9, 2008 - Father left, children have become
disrespectful
November 6, 2008 - Mom worried about son's strange
behavior
November 3, 2008 - School doesn't require books
October 27, 2008 - Pre-teen boys won't do their chores
October 23, 2008 - Teen arrested for stealing a car
October 20, 2008 - Are cold medicines safe for infants?
October 13, 2008 - Kids won't eat breakfast
October 9, 2008 - 2 year old keep saying "no"
October 6, 2008 - Mom objects to birth control for teen
daughter
October 2, 2008 - 17 year old has to socialize with ex
boyfriend
September 29, 2008 - Mother wants daughter to wait
for marriage before sex
September 23, 2008 - 16 year old wants to play footbal.
Is is safe?
September 22, 2008 - Moms feuding, daughter misses
her friend
September 19, 2008 - Children are overweight
September 15, 2008 - 3 year old biting at daycare
September 11, 2008 - 12 year old daughter missing the
school bus
September 1, 2008 - Financially struggling family and
the Dentist
August 28, 2008 - 16 year old cheating in school
August 25, 2008 - 14 year-old hanging out with older
kids
August 21, 2008 - Mother screams at Pre-schoolers
August 18, 2008 - Teens with Cell Phones
August 14, 2008 - Rebellious 17 year old
August 7, 2008 - Two pre-teen nephews and their
marine father
August 4, 2008 - Daughter wants to go to private school
but mother can't afford it
July 24, 2008 - 2 year old won't keep her clothes on
July 17, 2008 - Drug testing on Pre-teens
July 14, 2008 - Parent with poor self esteem
July 10, 2008 - Kids starting school, mother wants to
work
July 7, 2008 - Nine year old son stealing from mom's
purse
July 3, 2008, 15 year old with crush on older neighbor
May 29, 2008 - 4 year old says he hates Mom
February 5, 2007 - Boy plays with dolls, find a
pediatrician, children leaving home
January 29, 2007 - Temper Tantrums, Close Knit Family
January 25, 2007 - Overweight, Son Masturbating
February 1, 2007 - Home Schooling
January 29, 2007 - Temper Tantrums, Close Knit Family
January 25, 2007 - Overweight, Masturbating
it might affect her children
February 11, 2010 - Pre-teens grades slipping because
of texting and video games
February 8, 2010 - Mother worried about 15 year old
getting pregnant
February 1, 2010 - Mother in conflict with 15 year old
daughter
January 21, 2010 - Disrespectful Dad
January 14, 2010 - 2 year old diagnosed with autism
January 7, 2010 - New Year's Wishes
December 24, 2009 - Christmas message
December 21, 2009 - Nine month old squeals in public
December 17, 2009 - Mom fighting with teenage son
December 14, 2009 - Custodial Grandparents do not
discipline grandson
December 3, 2009 - Toddler likes to run around naked
November 30, 2009 - Different parenting styles makes
mother the bad guy
November 22, 2009 - 15 year old wants to decorate her
room but has bad taste
November 19, 2009 - Parents reluctant to take 2 year
old to church
November 16, 2009 - Kids want a kitten
November 9, 2009 - Daughter obsessed with popular
singer
October 29, 2009 - Latchkey kids
October 26, 2009 - 10 year old daughter blinking a lot,
stress?
October 22, 2009 - How do you get kids to eat more
fruits and vegetables
October 19, 2009 - Pre-teens have developed
expensive tastes
October 8, 2009 - Teen daughter's friend is secretly
pregnant
September 28, 2009 - Mother of two can't seem to get
organized
September 24, 2009 - Family in a financial mess
September 21, 2009 - 15 year old daughter has bad
breath
September 17, 2009 - Pregnant stepdaughter giving
stepmom a hard time
September 14, 2009 - 8 year old having problems
making friends
September 10, 2009 - Young mother taking parenting
classes and stressed out
September 7, 2009 - 8 year old is having behavioral
problems
September 3, 2009 - 2 year old becomes an escape
artist
August 31, 2009 - 10 year old with negative attitude
has no friends
August 27, 2009 - 6 year old in kindergarten has start
to poop in his pants
August 24, 2009 - Mother of toddlers tries time-out
August 20, 2009 - 18 year old living at home but staying
out late frequently
August 17, 2009 - Divorced mother wants to date, but
14 year old daughter resisting
August 13, 2009 - 18 year old son wants to quit college
and be a rock star
August 10, 2009 - Child has a stuttering problem
August 6, 2009 - Grandmother concerned that mother
should stay home with 18 month old
August 3, 2009 - 2 year old is a picky eater
July 30, 2009 - Babysitter concerned with 6 year old
grabbing attention
July 27, 2009 - 14 year old daughter avoiding mother
July 23, 2009 - Mom grieving over lost child
July 20, 2009 - Mom wants to keep her kids from
becoming overweight
July 16, 2009 - 5 year old is distracted and always late
July 13, 2009 - Mother of teens wants another baby,
Dad does not
July 10, 2009 - 14 year old upset over parent divorce
July 6, 2009 - New mother reluctant to breast feed
July 2 - 2009 - Black women giving child up for adoption
to white parents
June 28, 2009 - 6 year old stealing
June 25, 2009 - Daughter-in-law can't discipline her
children
June 22, 2009 - Father injured and can't care for
daughter
June 18, 2009 - Father's day reminder
June 15 , 2009 - Son is a college grad but can't find a job
June 11, 2009 -- 15 year old daughter in an abusive
relationship
June 8, 2009 - Ex-husband's wife is too permissive
June 1, 2009 - Should 14 year old son cut the grass for
free
May 28, 2009 - Shy 8 year old in her sister's shadow
May 25, 2009 - Two year old becomes whirling dervish
May 21, 2009 - How to entertain the kids when the
family has to cut back
May 18, 2009 - 5 year kicking and screaming in
pre-school
May 15, 2009 - 13 year old doesn't like how she looks
May 11, 2009 - Single woman considers artificial
insemination
May 7, 2009 - Husband is cheap with the family
April 30, 2009 - 3 year old son diagnosed with autism
April 27, 2009 - 15 year old son may be smoking
marijuana
April 20, 2009 - Mother of pre-schoolers worried about
lead paint in an old house
April 16, 2009 - 14 year old sneaking out to a party
April 13, 2009 - Granddaughter with behavior problems
April 6, 2009 - Mother of toddlers not sure about
boyfriend moving in
April 2, 2009 - 3 year old has nightmares
March 29, 2009 - Exhausted Mom needs some help
March 26, 2009 - Son wants to hang out with friends,
not younger brother
March 23, 2009 - 12 year old son spends most of his
time on the computer
March 19, 2009 - New baby won't stop crying
March 16, 2009 - 12 year old son with graphic magazines
March 12, 2009 - 16 year old rejects advice
March 5, 2009 - 4 year old daughter throwing tantrums
March 2, 2009 - 17 year old wants to go to spring break
February 26 - 4 year old daughter seems overweight
February 23 - Youngest daughter may be pregnant
February 19, 2009 - 3 year old pinches younger sister
February 16, 2009 - Kids like to sleep in parents bed
February 12, 2009 - 15 year old boy won't go to school
February 9, 2009 - Mom wants to give Gardasil to 12
year old daughter
February 5, 2009 - Disrespectful 8 year old girl, taking
Concerta
February 2, 2009 - 5 year old with developmental delays
and ADHD
January 29, 2009 - 7 year old son trying to light fires
January 26 - 2009 - New Mom is insecure about not
working
January 22, 2009 - 15 year old daughter wants to be a
vegetarian
January 19- 2009 - 12 year old developmentally delayed
- lacking social skills.
January 15, 2009 - Impact of divorce on children
January 12, 2009 - Pre-teen daughters will soon be
dating
January 8, 2009 - 3 year old is insecure about newborn
January 5, 2009 - Nine year old wants to buy racey
clothes
January 1, 2009 - Mother is unable to nurse new baby
December 29, 2008 - Kids act differently for Mom than
Dad
December 18, 2008 - 42 year old woman pregnant, child
has downs syndrome
December 15, 2008 - 13 year old grand daughter lying
about meeting a boy
December 11, 2008 - Mom feels left out of the life of her
4 year old
December 8, 2008 - 12 year old wants an allowance
December 4, 2008 - Teen Romance, 14 year old with a
boyfriend
December 1, 2008 - Husband disrespectful of Mom
November 24, 2008 - Financial problems at Christmas
November 20, 2008 - Mom fells isolated and depressed
is in a new city
November 17, 2008 - 7 year old having night terrors
November 13, 2008 - Mother smokes but wants to quit.
November 9, 2008 - Father left, children have become
disrespectful
November 6, 2008 - Mom worried about son's strange
behavior
November 3, 2008 - School doesn't require books
October 27, 2008 - Pre-teen boys won't do their chores
October 23, 2008 - Teen arrested for stealing a car
October 20, 2008 - Are cold medicines safe for infants?
October 13, 2008 - Kids won't eat breakfast
October 9, 2008 - 2 year old keep saying "no"
October 6, 2008 - Mom objects to birth control for teen
daughter
October 2, 2008 - 17 year old has to socialize with ex
boyfriend
September 29, 2008 - Mother wants daughter to wait
for marriage before sex
September 23, 2008 - 16 year old wants to play footbal.
Is is safe?
September 22, 2008 - Moms feuding, daughter misses
her friend
September 19, 2008 - Children are overweight
September 15, 2008 - 3 year old biting at daycare
September 11, 2008 - 12 year old daughter missing the
school bus
September 1, 2008 - Financially struggling family and
the Dentist
August 28, 2008 - 16 year old cheating in school
August 25, 2008 - 14 year-old hanging out with older
kids
August 21, 2008 - Mother screams at Pre-schoolers
August 18, 2008 - Teens with Cell Phones
August 14, 2008 - Rebellious 17 year old
August 7, 2008 - Two pre-teen nephews and their
marine father
August 4, 2008 - Daughter wants to go to private school
but mother can't afford it
July 24, 2008 - 2 year old won't keep her clothes on
July 17, 2008 - Drug testing on Pre-teens
July 14, 2008 - Parent with poor self esteem
July 10, 2008 - Kids starting school, mother wants to
work
July 7, 2008 - Nine year old son stealing from mom's
purse
July 3, 2008, 15 year old with crush on older neighbor
May 29, 2008 - 4 year old says he hates Mom
February 5, 2007 - Boy plays with dolls, find a
pediatrician, children leaving home
January 29, 2007 - Temper Tantrums, Close Knit Family
January 25, 2007 - Overweight, Son Masturbating
February 1, 2007 - Home Schooling
January 29, 2007 - Temper Tantrums, Close Knit Family
January 25, 2007 - Overweight, Masturbating
Dear Sara answers parenting and child raising
questions from readers, new columns are
posted on Mondays and Thursdays, this column
was published August 2, 2007
Dear Sara,
My 16 year old son, Gavin, came
home last night very drunk, what
I call sloshed. What is the
appropriate punishment for this
behavior? Marty
Dear Marty,
Kids now have such horrible role
models to look up to such as Paris
Hilton and Nicole Richie. They make
getting drunk seem like a lark when
it can be the beginning of alcoholism
and trouble with the law.
The first punishment that comes to
mind is grounding. Along with
keeping him at home, you could take
away his telephone and internet
privileges.
If he hasn't been in trouble before, a
week or so might be sufficient. If he
drove himself home, then this incident
needs to be addressed more
seriously.
Teens love the independence of
driving themselves around. Even
after Gavin's grounding time is up, his
car privileges may need to be kept to
daytime hours or when it is
convenient for you to have him drive
himself.
You might want to call the Department
of Motor Vehicles in your area to see if
he can be admitted to whatever
program they have for ticketed
drivers. Sometimes they have some
seriously graphic films to try to
convince people to drive safely.
I hope that this is a one time incident
for Gavin. Good luck.
Sara
questions from readers, new columns are
posted on Mondays and Thursdays, this column
was published August 2, 2007
Dear Sara,
My 16 year old son, Gavin, came
home last night very drunk, what
I call sloshed. What is the
appropriate punishment for this
behavior? Marty
Dear Marty,
Kids now have such horrible role
models to look up to such as Paris
Hilton and Nicole Richie. They make
getting drunk seem like a lark when
it can be the beginning of alcoholism
and trouble with the law.
The first punishment that comes to
mind is grounding. Along with
keeping him at home, you could take
away his telephone and internet
privileges.
If he hasn't been in trouble before, a
week or so might be sufficient. If he
drove himself home, then this incident
needs to be addressed more
seriously.
Teens love the independence of
driving themselves around. Even
after Gavin's grounding time is up, his
car privileges may need to be kept to
daytime hours or when it is
convenient for you to have him drive
himself.
You might want to call the Department
of Motor Vehicles in your area to see if
he can be admitted to whatever
program they have for ticketed
drivers. Sometimes they have some
seriously graphic films to try to
convince people to drive safely.
I hope that this is a one time incident
for Gavin. Good luck.
Sara