Q: I thought my son would grow out of his somewhat lethargic response to the world as he moved into more mature responsibilities but I was wrong. He is as unenthusiastic as ever and I do not know what to do about it. At his age, he could be going to university, doing some kind […] Read more
Author Archives
Son’s chronic lethargy likely requires medical attention
Two vacations in one way may help reduce holiday stress
Q: Since my husband and I retired, we have twice planned to take summer vacations to get away for a few days and to spend time with our grandchildren, who live out of province. We are planning to take a third one. So far, the vacations have been disasters. My fear is that this one […] Read more
Spontaneous recovery from alcoholism not guaranteed
Q: I don’t know if there is a better way of helping you understand my long lost Uncle Fred than to see him for what he was — a hopeless drunk. He managed to drink his way through whatever money he picked up from Grandpa’s inheritance and in the process he cuffed two really short-term […] Read more
Adjusting to long-term care can be challenge for elderly
Q: My family was pretty happy when our mother was finally accepted into the residence of a long-term care facility for seniors living in our town. Mom had been living for years on her own in the little house she and our dad picked up when they moved into town, just before he died. Her […] Read more
Parents of talented children must not take special credit
Q: I have a daughter who is gorgeous. She is only 19 but she has already had a number of modelling contracts and has been asked to play hostess for a significant fund-raising event in the city. She is going to make a lot of money. Her agent thinks that movie contracts are not beyond […] Read more
Parents who do too much will not produce helpless kids
Q: According to my mother, my husband and I are just about the worst parents in the world. She thinks that we do way too much for our three boys. For sure, I do more for the boys than my mom did for me, but that is another story. The truth is that George and […] Read more
Inappropriate hug needs to become learning moment
Q: When I drove to the city a few days ago to shop for a graduation present for my nephew, I ran into an old school friend in the jewelry store. I was excited. It has been years since I have seen her and that is sad. I miss her. We were very close friends […] Read more
Girls in elementary school can practise subtle bullying
Q: The other day my 10-year-old daughter came home from school in tears. I never did get the complete story from her but from what I can gather, she has been victimized by a group of her friends on the playground. They quietly call her names and leave her out when they are picking teams […] Read more
Couples should feel free to pursue their own interests
Q: Last night my granddaughter told me that she was planning to spend three weeks this summer hiking through the mountains. I thought that was a splendid plan for a summer vacation but when she told me that she was going with two of her girlfriends and that they decided to leave their husbands at […] Read more
Success will come when we learn to check our emotions
Q: My former husband has a bad habit of shooting himself in the foot just when things are starting to look good. When he and I were married, we would have what looked like an exceptional crop year but then he would charge off into some kind of a dumb decision and what was supposed […] Read more
