The value of homework and developing a good work ethic

 Question: Dear Adele Our son has just returned to physical school after many months of virtual learning. He will also be resuming extracurricular hockey which will leave him short on free time. Soon he will be getting homework as well. Some parents we know say they do not do homework at

Is your child ready for the responsibility of a furry friend

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, I’m just about worn down by the pleading of my child for a pet. While the puppy he has in mind is adorable, I toss and turn in my bed at night thinking about shedding hair, morning and evening walks and little wet mistakes on the living

Helping your school-age children to avoid drugs

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, Our only son will be starting high school this year and we are worried about his exposure to illicit drugs and possible choice to experiment with them. We are looking for advice. Can you help? First Time Through the Gauntlet ANSWER: Dear First Time Through the Gauntlet,

Pondering the ‘One and Done’ club

 Question Dear Adele, My husband and I are considering a membership in the ‘One and Done’ club. We are however feeling pressure from our parents, siblings and friends to provide our son with a biological playmate. Are the stereotypes about only children true do you think? Are we going to

Helping your child deal with death and dying

 Question: Dear Adele, We are living in extremely tough times as parents. We thought we had this parenting thing down pat, but the coronavirus pandemic has humbled us, mightily. Stories of death and dying are all over our television, in every newspaper and magazine we receive, and seemingly come up

The challenge of raising gifted girls

 Question: Dear Adele, We have three children so are not inexperienced parents. However, our third child seems to be out of step with the norms for development. She is only four years old and can name all the elements in The Periodic Table, can point to and name correctly dozens

When your children prefer the family bed

 Question: Dear Adele, We have a new baby at our home and a set of preschool twins. My wife often brings the baby to our bed as she finds nursing easier there. The twins seem to think our double bed belongs to them. When our family black lab decides to

Your teenager and the dating dilemma

 Question Dear Adele, Our seventh grade daughter has a crush on a classmate and wants to start dating. We know It is a normal part of adolescence but wonder exactly when is the best time to allow our young teenager the experience of dating. This is uncharted territory for her

Things to consider when ‘birthing’ a blended family

 Question: Dear Adele, I am a divorcee with two children ages 6 and 9, who finally allowed herself the freedom to date. I have recently met a super guy with two teenagers, who is also divorced. We have started to talk seriously about a future together with our four kids.

Dealing with stigma and mental health

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, My teenaged son lives with anxiety and depression. Last year his physician thought he needed some time away from school. Upon his return, my son felt that many of his fellow students were avoiding him and/or judging him. Are attitudes of shame and blame common? How can

Prize fighting with the picky eater

 Question: Dear Adele, Our preschooler is the pickiest eater on earth, we swear! He is driving us bananas at mealtimes, rejecting this and that, and demanding stuff he tends to like. Sometimes when mealtime comes around we feel we must be prepared to go ten rounds with our little Mohammed

When sibling rivalry is like taming a Green-Eyed Monster

 Question Dear Adele, My husband and I always wanted three children. To tell the truth, sometimes we would like to send two of them back. Any two would do, actually. Having just one child would eliminate the constant fighting, bickering, competing, and sometimes hatefulness that seems to rear its ugly

Heart to Heart with Adele: Dealing with death and dying

 Question: Dear Adele, We are living in extremely tough times as parents. We thought we had this parenting thing down pat, but the coronavirus pandemic has humbled us, mightily. Stories of death and dying are all over our television, in every newspaper and magazine we receive, and seemingly come up

Heart to Heart with Adele: Lockdown, emotions and your kids

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, Covid-19 is hijacking our family’s positivity, general contentment and happiness with life. We have been isolating and social distancing ourselves, and to tell you the truth its beginning to suck! Cabin fever has never been so contagious, all-encompassing or so overwhelming before! We need a mental health

Heart to Heart with Adele: Online predators and your kids!

 Question: Dear Adele. Our family is cooped up in quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the world is in disarray and frantically trying to stop the spread of the virus, my husband and I are barely coping with our three crazy-making kids, at home. We are also frantically trying

Heart to Heart with Adele: When your child becomes a Pinocchio

 Question: Dear Adele, My husband and I are getting quite concerned because our school-aged children seem to be getting better and better at duping us, by lying. We both really value integrity, and are aware that it is not all that common anymore. We need a bit of direction about

Heart to Heart: The challenge of raising a gifted child

 Question: Dear Adele, Our son is in primary school in the local school system. We think he might be gifted, and his teachers have suggested we have him tested. I’m wondering what experience you have with gifted children and what ideas you have for me about raising him. We want