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All Articles for Parenting Challenges
Anger Issues: How I’m Helping My Kids…an...
Anger issues make our homes feel like an emotional battlefield. But with planting and perseverance, we may discover the field we’re on is actually a garden.
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Sharing the Load for Back to School
After a pandemic-filled year, back to school is offering its own challenges. But sharing the load with your spouse might be the key to surviving.
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Stressed Kids: 4 Questions to Ask Them
School closings, changes to home and learning routines, and anxious parents. Right now, even the most resilient children can turn into stressed kids.
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Working With Kids at Home During COVID-19
Crusted cereal bowls. Kitchen counter desks. Bed sheet forts just out of conference call camera view...How do we keep up working with kids at home?
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How to Homeschool During Quarantine
Even if you’ve never done this sort of thing before, you can trust your instincts about what your child needs. No one knows your child like you do.
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3 Easy Rules for Disciplining Kids at Grandm...
“No jumping on Mimi’s couches. No snacks in the living room.” Welcome to disciplining kids at Grandma's. But whose rules do you follow? Yours or Mimi's?
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How I Became Okay With My Child Being Just M...
I’ve been a high achiever all my life. I didn’t expect a kid with meltdowns, dismal spelling tests, embarrassing social skills. I had to get over myself.
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When Fear for Your Child Is Real
When you’re picking out little baby outfits, you don’t anticipate someone telling you, years later, your teenager may have lymphoma.
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Having ‘the Talk’ With My Daughter Had a...
Our Passport2Purity® weekend didn’t go anything like I had planned, but what came out of it was even better.
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Making Your Home a Sanctuary for Your Family
You can make your home a place of peace and safety for you and your spouse and kids. Here are some ways to create the setting.
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How to Not Lose It on Your Kids After a Stre...
I shudder at the times I’ve acted irritably toward my kids because I was still stressed from work. How do we come home as the loving parents we want to be?
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Have You Talked to Your Kids About Sex?
The sex talk and gender conversations in your home don’t have to be big, awkward productions. But they do need to happen. The sooner the better.
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Riding the Two Rails of Grief: Faith and Suf...
After the unexpected death of our son, my wife and I learned that faith informs pain, but it doesn’t erase it.
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‘Mom, I Am Their Father’
I finally realized that my children had all the father they needed; all I had to do was point them to God for their needs.
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A Pop Star’s Surprising Perspective on Pur...
While my generation will associate Michelle Williams with suggestive song titles, the next generation might associate her with something entirely different—being a champion for the biblical model of marriage.
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Your Child Is Not Your Enemy
Here are eight ways we can fight for, not against, our children in their hard-to-handle moments.
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Discipline for the Strong Willed Child
My son, Aaron, taught me valuable lessons on how to choose my battles … and win them.
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11 Best Practices for Dating as a Single Par...
Dating for two is difficult; dating in a crowd is downright complicated.
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They Didn’t Know How to Have ‘Th...
How Doug and Deb Gulbranson used Passport2Purity® to teach their children about the pressures they would face as teenagers.
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5 Prayers for Prodigals
Even when we see no visible evidence, we can trust that God is at work.
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Disciplining Your Children Is Challenging, b...
Seeing the fruit of correcting your children requires delayed gratification.
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Discipline and Trust Go Hand in Hand
Just as failing to discipline your children will lead them to running the house, failing to trust your children will lead them to leaving the house.
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When Your Kids Ask, ‘How Far Can I Go...
Helping your children understand God’s design for sex … and how to save themselves for marriage.
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Can You Balance Work and Family
When we learned that the nature of parenting is sacrifice, we went from trying to have it all to having everything that matters.
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Q&A: Disciplining a Child in Public
Letting your child know your expectations before you go out in public together can act as a deterrent to inappropriate behavior.
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Q&A: Waiting Until Marriage
Just because you failed in the area of sexual purity doesn't mean you can't be committed to upholding God's standard for your kids.
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More Than a Backpacking Weekend
My wife and I hoped that by the end of the Passport2Purity weekend our son would be seeing things about life more clearly.
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Was God Surprised When My Child Was Born?
How do we, as parents, dream new dreams for our children when we have no idea what the future holds?
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10 Ways to Help Parents of Children With Spe...
“Some of the greatest needs we have are understanding and friendship.”
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A Note to Jimmy Kimmel, From a Fellow Heart...
Our life with Annie hasn’t been easy. But it’s been worth it.
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‘I’m Sorry … It’s He...
Our journey began when doctors told us our unborn daughter would be born with half a heart. In the last year we’ve learned to rely on God’s faithfulness.
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25 Tips for Avoiding Mom Burnout
A list for those who—like me—struggle with overcommitting and overworking.
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Take the Boy-Crazy Quiz
Do you trust God with your love life?
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Help for Those Grieving the Loss of a Child
A list of helpful resources.
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Helping Your Teen Avoid the Anger Trap
Some solid convictions that we believe every family should embrace.
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Disciplining Your Children Without Losing Yo...
Six guidelines for controlling your emotions while correcting your kids.
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20 Ideas for Busy Parents
Here are some tips for bringing balance to the hectic pace of life.
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Guarding Our Daughters’ Sexual Purity
A nervous father interviews his daughter's date.
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It Was Time for ‘The Talk’
A Passport2Purity weekend gave me the opportunity to talk with my daughter about the issues she would face as a teenager ... and we had fun, too!
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Administering Discipline for Attitude Proble...
What worked yesterday with a child may not work today, and you have to be flexible
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Q&A: Discipline for an Older Child
What’s the best way to discipline my older child? Barbara: The toddler and preschool years are a time to lay the groundwork for behavior and for moral choices in your children. Once you’ve got a problem conquered in your 4-year-old, it’s easy to think, That’s been taken care of, and my child won’t ever do […]
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Q&A: Deciding When to Spank
How do I know when it's needed and when it isn't?
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Preparing for a Successful Blend
Two tips for beginning a new marriage and a new stepfamily.
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Going Back to Church
One of the hardest things I've done as a single parent
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The Death of My Unborn Child
The pain was indescribable, but somehow I found peace.
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Q&A: What to Do About Children Expressin...
Our assignment as parents is to tenderize the child’s conscience to the Holy Spirit and to the law of God.
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Q&A: The Persistent Child
Dealing with a child who makes the same request over and over again.
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Q&A: The Balancing Act
How do you relieve the pressures you feel as a family?
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Q&A: The Overbooked Family
How can we slow down this crazy pace of life?
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Q&A: The First Kiss
I've heard some Christians lately urging their children to save their first kiss for a wedding kiss.
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Teaching Your Teen How to Properly Express A...
When your child is angry you can help him understand what hurt him and work through that issue.
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Teaching Your Child How to Manage Busyness
Getting a grip on schedules and activities is a gift that will never lose its value.
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Teaching Your Child About Gods Views on Sex
God created sex, and your children need to know His purpose for it.
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Teaching Teens About Managing Anger
When your child is angry you can help him understand what hurt him and work through that issue.
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The Man Who Waited
It’s not easy to wait until marriage to begin having sex. But Tee Uzoigwe was determined to wait for God’s best.
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Shaping Your Child’s Convictions About...
Dating can be a trap for teens.
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Replace Whining With Gratitude in Your Child...
Combing the day for things you’re thankful for can replace your old way of seeing the world.
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How I Learned About the Value of Consequence...
My father loved me enough to let me feel the full extent of my actions.
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Where Conflicts Come From
Recognizing the roots in sin can head off disputes before they start.
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Listening To the Wrong Voices
God has good reasons for wanting us to wait until marriage for sex.
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Is Abstinence the Goal?
Helping your child maintain innocence in a world obsessed with sex.
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Losing a Child at 35 Weeks in the Womb
Our daughter is in heaven, but we here on earth have have an incredible opportunity.
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What Everybody Craves
A sample devotional from FamilyLife’s newly revised Passport2Purity®.
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Coping With Guilt as a Single Parent
If you let guilt over divorce cripple you, it can keep you from giving your children the love they need.
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‘How Far Is Too Far?’ Is the Wro...
The choice between sexual purity and sexual experimentation is an key battle for Christian youth today. This deadly trap snares millions of teens.
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Hooked: The Bonding Power of Sex
Why parents need to help their children navigate the sexually-charged adolescent years.
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How Can the Single Mom Do It?
From watching my single mother as I was growing up, and from watching many women in that situation, here are four essentials to succeed as a single mom.
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From the Valley to the Mountaintop
The birth of our twin granddaughters reminds me of the lessons God teaches us in the joys and the hardships of life.
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God Is Not Threatened by My Heartbreak
When I trusted God enough to call out to Him, I learned that He wanted to share in my grief.
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Guiding Your Teen Through the Dating Game
We suggest four convictions that all parents should consider and uphold.
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Helping Your Children Win at Purity
The battle for a child’s purity is real, and as parents it’s our task to set them up for success.
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The Gumnazo Principle Child Discipline Is a...
Helping your child practice the right thing to do is just as important as identifying the wrong thing to do.
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The Dangers of Pornography
Stop the spread of slime in your home.
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The New Dating Culture
Though it encourages socializing in groups, it also leads to casual sex among friends
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25 Ways to Address Sibling Rivalry
It's been around as long as there have been children, but what do you do when they're your children?
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Three Cheers for the Meanest Mom
The courageous choice of one mom gives us confidence to also be strong with our teens.
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Which Way Is Your Deck Chair Facing
Many Christians have not taken a strong look at what they believe in.
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Who is Watching You
Even if you don't intend to leave a legacy, you will.
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Does Good Parenting Guarantee Good Kids?
There are no foolproof methods of parenting, because there are no perfect parents.
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Don’t Let Suffering Break Your Spirit
Healthy ways to deal with grief from the parent of a prodigal.
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Q&A: Neutralizing Adolescent Anger
Distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate expressions of anger.
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Q&A: Expression vs Insolence
Copyright © 2003 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.
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When Prodigals Come Home
Whatever their story, prodigals need a safe haven.
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Q&A: Discipline for a Young Child
What’s the best approach to discipline with my young child? Barbara: When a child is a toddler, he or she is in what I call “the training 2s.” When children are 2-5 years old, I call this the “intense training” stage. During these early years, you will notice your children becoming more defiant and rebellious—more […]
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Checking Your Child’s Convictions Abou...
Keep your ears and eyes open and in tune to what’s going on in your child’s life, and to all that he is exposed to. Keep the lines of communication open.
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What Are Your Standards for Dating?
The do's and don'ts of going out with the opposite sex.
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Modeling Godly Expressions of Anger for Your...
We need to work at modeling appropriate expressions of anger.
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Caught in a Tug of War
Parents often feel tired from fighting the influences of the culture, but let me encourage you to hang on.
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Bringing Home a New Sibling
Practical tips for relieving some of the natural rivalry between siblings and helping them to develop an appreciation for one another.
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Broaching the Subject of Masturbation With Y...
Four observations to note and discuss.
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An Unexpected Gift: Raising a Child With a L...
As we learned more about our son, it felt like we were unwrapping a precious gift. Each testing day brought new insights into how his amazing brain worked.
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A Story of Two Prodigals
Loving wayward children even when you don't approve of their behavior.
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22 Ways to Really Listen to Your Children
Be patient. Don’t complete their sentences. Let them finish, even if it seems they are rambling. Don’t interrupt. Face your child and make eye contact. Lean forward, if you’re seated, to show you’re interested. Take advantage of passive moments such as watching a video, listening to music, or sitting on the edge of their bed […]
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A Sabbath for Mommy
A mother’s work is never done: Feed the baby, change the baby, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, cook dinner … There’s nothing worse than filling the dishwasher twice in one day only to find that there are still dishes left in the sink! Since the birth of my son, I have found myself working […]
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How to Talk to Your Kids When You Discipline...
When we discipline our children, we need to use words that have the power to heal and restore.
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Quick Tips for Disciplining Toddlers
Having raised five children, I’ve learned a few things I hope might encourage you.
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The “Forgotten” Part of Discipli...
How could a child be happy after being disciplined?
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7 Marks of a Hurried Family
Take a stroll down a typical American neighborhood, and you’ll find families who desperately need a break from the rat race
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Controlling Busyness in Your Family Life
Our family continues to work on refining these three convictions.
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Cultivating Quiet
Setting a tone in my home that allows for the spiritual disciplines of quiet and solitude is my responsibility.
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Life Is Good When Parents and Children Slow...
Busy schedules can overtake a home if parents don't maintain a proper balance between activities and leisure time.
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A Decent Proposal
Sexy clothes are hallmarks of fashion today, even for young girls. How can you help your daughter make choices that show off her heart, not her body?
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Developing Boundaries for Your Teens About T...
These four convictions helped guide us as we taught our teenagers about appearance issues.
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Shaping Your Teen’s Convictions About...
The process of shaping convictions needs to begin early.
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Beyond Abstinence
Challenging your child to the higher goal of purity.
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How do I teach my children about sex so that...
Five steps for developing and implementing a sex education plan.
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Protecting Your Son From Aggressive Girls
We're seeing a surge in girls taking the initiative with guys at younger and younger ages, and aggressively attempting to lure them into sexual activity.
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Why You’re the Best Person to Teach Yo...
Talking about sex may be the single most powerful way parents have of stepping into the lives of their children.
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Inside The Mind of a Prodigal
Every time I read the story about the Prodigal Son, I feel it's a story about me.
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Loving the Prodigal Child
A crisis with a child means your family is headed into a period of testing ... and of growth.
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When Things Fall Apart
Seven promises for brokenhearted parents
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10 Ideas: Overcoming Sibling Rivalry
As we raised our six children, Barbara and I had many opportunities to train them to get along with each other.
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Checking Pride and Rebellion During Adolesce...
Because teens are trying to figure out who they are, what they are supposed to do, and what’s expected of them, all of these issues focus on the big me.
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Combating Attitude Problems in Your Family
Here are three convictions to build into your child’s life.
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Q&A: Disrespectful Speech and Whining
You need to give your child the freedom to express frustration or dissatisfaction, but train him how to do this respectfully—and at the proper time.
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Reaching Your Teen When He Is Unteachable
As you face some of life’s most challenging issues with your child, do not forget that love ultimately changes a person’s life.
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‘Mom, I’m Pregnant’
Lessons from my daughter's teenage pregnancy.
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