Kyria

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Butting Heads

I'm battling my 15-year-old daughter over clothing, boys, schoolwork, and her spending quality time with the Lord. I do my best to express my concerns regarding her well-being and spiritual walk, but it develops into an argument and my emotions burst. Sometimes I feel hopeless as a mother and question my abilities as a parent.

Most parents of teens feel the same, so you aren't alone. And you aren't ...

Related Topics: Arguments, Disagreements, Discussions, Honesty, Media, Peer pressure, Persecution, Questioning

Average Joe

My son's an average student, but hates to read; he's an OK athlete, but doesn't enjoy sports—unlike many of his friends who are really involved in school and athletics. I don't want to be pushy, but should I be doing more to help him succeed?

I don't like the term "average." There's no such thing as an average child as far as God's concerned. Sometimes we parents get sucked into comparing our ...

Related Topics: Achievement, School, Child, Strong-Willed, Comparison, God' Purpose, Manipulation, Shaping Child, Whining

Tempering the Tantrum

The fast-approaching holiday season brings many sources of joy for our families. But all the festivities—and accompanying goodies—have a dark side: tired, crabby kids. When you mix tired kids with new toys and sweets galore, often the result is one giant tantrum.

So we asked our CPT Expert Mom panel: How do you temper your kids' tantrums?

Make 'Em Laugh

I have to decide that I'll do my best ...

She Thinks She's Too Fat

Q. I've noticed my nine-year-old daughter has become concerned about her weight and appearance. She makes comments such as, "Do I look fat in this?" Also, she seems to play with her food more than eat it. I don't want to create a problem that doesn't exist, but should I be worried? She seems much too young for an eating disorder.

A. You're wise to be aware of the signs of an eating disorder. At the ...

My Son's a Cyber-Spud

Q. My teenage son spends hours on the Internet instant-messaging his friends. Although we monitor the sites he visits (and have protective software on his computer), I'm worried he's spending so much time online that he's missing out on other activities. Any suggestions?

A. Welcome to teen years in the 21st century! For our parents, it was our hours on the telephone. I wonder what conversation conduit ...

Party Pooper!

My friends are playing "can you top this?" when it comes to their children's birthday parties. I'm all for giving my seven-year-old daughter a fun time, but I feel cheap because we're not renting a clown, having a bouncy house, etc. Am I out of step with the times?

Yes, you are—but that's not necessarily a bad thing! Consider this an opportunity to talk to your daughter about how it's actually ...

Related Topics: Competition, Creativity, Disrespect, Divorce, Parties, Talking Back, Teenage Dating, unequally yoked

Lost in Space

My ten-year-old son has a fascination with UFOs and space aliens. I know this is partly a boy thing, but I'm concerned it could lead him to the occult. Do I need to discourage this fascination?

Recently, I read the following in Randy Alcorn's book Heaven: "God has built into us the longing to see the wonders of his far-flung creation. The popularity of science fiction reflects that longing. Visiting ...

Related Topics: Bullying, Fear, Imagination, Occult, Science Fiction, Slurs, Supernatural

How Do Christians Know We're Right?

Q. My 12-year-old came to me last night wondering how she can be sure that Christianity is truth—when it's all she's ever known. She argued that if she had been raised in a Hindu household, she'd probably see that as truth. In this day of relativism and "everything goes," how do I show my daughter that Jesus really is The Way?

A. Your daughter's question reveals a heart that desires to understand ...

Weight Watchers

Q. Some kids in our nine-year-old son's Sunday school class are teasing him about his weight. How can we help him cope with unkind comments and also slim down without harming his self-esteem?

A. I assume you're already trying your best to provide healthy food choices for your son while still allowing him the joys of being a kid, including occasional junk food and candy. I'd suggest you have a quiet ...

Our Daughter's Bewitched

Q. I discovered some books on Wicca under my 14-year-old daughter's bed, and she's admitted she doesn't believe what she hears in church anymore. Though she made a commitment to Christ as a young child, she's no longer interested in attending church and complains that her youth group is "cliquey." What can we do about this fascination she's developed?

A. Wicca, the worship of the Mother Goddess, ...