Family Matters

Substance abuse and adolescent suicide

What's the relationship between drugs, alcohol, and teen suicide? What should we do if we suspect that our child might be at risk for any of these behaviors?

28 Jul 2022 6PM 5 min

Strong willed child won’t stay in bed

How can we get our defiant toddler to lie down and go to sleep at night? He's a handful at any time and under any circumstances, but nothing can top his uncooperative behavior at bedtime. No matter how many times we put him to bed, he gets up again and…

27 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Single parent desires help and companionship

As a single mom with three young children, is it okay for me to want another person around to help carry the load? I used to feel pretty self-sufficient, but the burden of doing it all by myself is getting heavier. I work full time, take online college courses, and…

26 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

What the bible says about forgiving yourself?

The most beautiful and freeing thing about Christianity is that Christ died for the forgiveness of our sins. But Jesus also taught that believers should forgive one another as He forgives us. The practice of offering forgiveness to others, no matter how hard, is unquestioned in the Christian faith. When…

25 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Teens and unfulfilled sexual desires

Why has God given teens such strong a sexual drive and no healthy, acceptable way to satisfy it? This just doesn't seem fair. In Bible times people got married at a younger age. As a result, it was normal to have sex and start raising kids before you reached the…

25 Jul 2022 9AM 4 min

Setting boundaries with a mentally ill adult child

How do we establish behavioral guidelines for a grown child who suffers from mental illness? Should our boundaries be the same as those we'd set up with any other child? Or do special considerations apply in a situation like this?

21 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Parents concerned about too much homework

What should I do if my primary school child is getting so much homework that family time hardly exists and he has little energy for anything else? He spends hours on his assignments every night. As far as I can see, he isn't slow at completing his tasks. There's just…

20 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Modesty and clothing battles between parents and teens

If your teen daughter is causing your hair to fall out from panic over her fashion choices, then you’ll want to stay tuned to Family Matters because we’ll be tackling the issue of modesty and clothing battles between teens and parents.

19 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Helping children cope with divorce

How can I help my teens deal with the fallout of my divorce? It's been painful for everyone, but I'm especially concerned about my oldest son. Ever since my ex-husband left a year and a half ago, he seems to be putting himself under a lot of pressure to assume…

18 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Encouraging your child’s sense of humour

Most people love to have a good laugh from time to time, some even call laughing medicine for the soul. There are, however, some who seem to laugh and joke less than the rest of us, and perhaps that’s just their personality coming through.

17 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Emotional affairs and ongoing friendships

Marriage is a God designed institution in which a man and woman become one flesh and commit to sharing life together for the rest of their days. The problem very often, however, is that couples don’t seek to serve each other in marriage but rather endeavor to have their individual…

14 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Dealing with sibling rivalry

If there is more than one child in your home, you can bet there’ll be some form of sibling rivalry at one time or another. The important question is, how much conflict between siblings should parents allow and put up with?

13 Jul 2022 6PM 4 min

Christian morality vs sexual repression

Is Christian sexual morality unhealthy or unnatural? I'm young woman who is trying to live a chaste life, but my boyfriend is always pressuring me. He says that my concerns about sexual morality are just an expression of an unhealthy "fear"-that in trying to live by God's standards, I'm basically…

13 Jul 2022 6AM 4 min

Christian growth and the process of maturity

If you have become despondent about the state of your Christian walk, you are not alone, many Christians wrestle with similar feelings every day.

12 Jul 2022 6AM 4 min

Child wonderers if animals go to heaven

Will my pet be with me in heaven? I'm really sad right now because my dog just died. We've had the same dog ever since I was a little kid, and I can't even imagine life without him. I asked my mom if I'd see him in heaven and she…

11 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min

Changing relationship with teen

As your child enters the teen years, you may notice that there’s been a shift in his or her loyalties. Where you were once your child’s safe place and confidant, you may realize that you’ve been relegated to the bench whilst friends take centerstage in their world.

8 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min

Biblical view of survivalist and preppers

What do you think of Christians who adopt a "survivalist/off-the-grid" mentality? Who sell their homes, move to remote desert or mountain locations, stockpile food, grow their own crops, live like "pioneers," and strive to be as independent of the "system" as possible? I know several people who are moving in…

7 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min

Caring for children and elderly parents simultaneously

There often comes a point in our adult lives when amidst our demanding task of parenting, we find that our own parents get to an age where they need our care as well. This is definitely not an easy situation to navigate.

6 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min

Biblical perspective on Christian involvement with the fine arts

Is there any legitimate place for the arts within the biblical worldview, or is it simply a frivolous and "worldly" pursuit? How can we tell good and godly art from bad art? Our daughter is an art student at the university, and we're worried that she's just wasting her time…

5 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min

Attending a family gathering including a same sex couple

As Christian parents we always want to make sure that our children know the principles by which Christ has taught us to live. However, we also need to ensure that they understand the fallen world that we live in.

4 Jul 2022 5AM 4 min