In an adoption situation, what are the pros and cons of preserving and maintaining the child’s relationship with his or her birth mother? My spouse and I are seriously considering adopting a child, but we haven’t yet decided whether to make it an “open” or a “closed” arrangement. What would you recommend?
Family Q&A
How can I become more actively involved in promoting a broader awareness of the sanctity of human life? I have a strong desire to take a stand in defense of innocent preborn children. Any suggestions or recommendations?
How do we decide what people should call one another in our newly blended family? It’s a second marriage for my husband and me, and each of us had a three-year-old child when we married. Those kids are now six and seven years old. Recently, my step-daughter started calling me “Mom.” When my husband’s ex-wife …
How can we be intimate and maintain a healthy sex life when our children are around all the time? My wife is always afraid of being “heard” or “interrupted” in the act. Again and again she rejects my advances by asking, “What if the kids walked in?”
How can I encourage my parents to stop spoiling our children? Grandma and Grandpa give my kids whatever they ask for, sometimes in complete disregard of my wishes. I don’t want to alienate my parents, but I’ve got to do something. Any ideas?
Can you help me deal with the pain of being abandoned by my father? He left the family when I was young. Now that I’m getting older and really need his input, he’s not here for me. What should I do?
Now that I’m in my mid-20s, how can I help my mom understand I’m not a child anymore? I’m the youngest of three. Because of my position in the family birth-order, my mom seems unwilling or unable to recognize that I’m now an adult. Is there anything I can do?
How can I get beyond my spouse’s critical attitude and forget about the many cruel things she’s said to me in the past? After several years of marriage, I’ve come to point where I just can’t take it anymore. I don’t believe in divorce, so we’re sleeping in separate rooms and living separate lives under …
Would it be okay for me to ask my bride-to-be to get tested for infertility before we’re married? I can’t understand the current trend toward “intentional childlessness” or the apparent devaluation of children in our culture – in fact, I’ve wanted kids for as long as I can remember! I also believe that marriage, sex, …
What marriage assessment tools are available from Focus on the Family?
Is it normal for me to wish I wasn’t married to my spouse? I guess we still love each other, but married life doesn’t look anything like the hopes and dreams we had while we were dating. We’re getting worn down from the hardships and disappointments that seem to keep coming our way. How can …
Do you have any thoughts on the moral and spiritual implications of vasectomy and tubal ligation? For a number of reasons my spouse and I would like to eliminate the possibility of any future pregnancies. What are the pros and cons of these procedures?
Is the recovery and reconciliation process as difficult for an emotional affair as compared to infidelity involving sexual activity? What are the differences? My husband has twice become emotionally involved with a woman at our church. At the moment he’s still struggling and has asked for forgiveness, but I’m not sure what to do or …
Do you think it’s okay for me to talk about problems in my marriage with a Facebook friend of the opposite sex? The spark has gone out of my relationship with my spouse, and we always seem to be facing some kind of challenge. Sometimes I discuss this with my online friend, and he’s always …
How can I help my husband see that he is placing the needs and feelings of his parents ahead of mine? After several years of marriage, his attachment to his mom and dad is still so strong that it’s causing serious damage to our relationship. I’ve confronted him about this, but he doesn’t see it …
How do gender distinctions — psychological and emotional as well as physical and sexual — impact male-female relationships and the business of everyday life within the context of marriage? What do husbands and wives need to know about this subject, and how will that knowledge help them build a stronger marital bond?
Why do Christians need a church wedding and a piece of paper from the state to make their marriage “official”? My girlfriend and I are both dedicated believers and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been wondering why we should bother applying for a marriage license. Isn’t marriage a private, …
What should I do about my boyfriend’s “party friends”? He’s a great guy, and we’re considering a long-term relationship, but he insists on maintaining his connections with this group of people despite the fact that I totally disagree with everything about their lifestyle, behavior, and beliefs. My boyfriend and I try to embrace clean, positive, …
How should I talk to my child about the images of naked women she saw at her dad’s house?
Should we allow our adult son to bring his same-sex partner to family gatherings? This makes us extremely uncomfortable, and we’re also afraid that it may be harmful to the younger children in the family. What do you think we should do?
