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I recently learned that one my teenage daughter's classmates (who also happens to be our neighbor) has been living with her other minor siblings without any adult supervision for almost a year now. She was at the house yesterday and asked me to act as her guardian in a school activity. Her...

My fifteen year old daughter's school has a student exchange program in partnership with the South Korean government. Most of her closest friends are going and thus, she wants to go along, too. I know there would be two teachers there to supervise them (ten students in all), but I'm not sure...

I always had an easy-going relationship with my oldest daughter, until she turned 15, that is. Whereas before, she used to tell me what goes on in her life, now, I don't know anything unless I press. What's more disappointing is that she doesn't seem to respect me anymore. She doesn't care if...

Do you have other married friends you occasionally hang out with? I do, and when we see each other, the topic is mostly about our kids. :) It's funny because a few years back, we couldn't stop talking about women and other men. Right now, all we can talk about is how great our kids are and...

A couple we are close to have just lost their six year-old to the dengue virus. Our friends are devastated, to say the least. How can a parent ever cope with the loss of his or her own child? My wife and I are trying our best to console them, but we're sure it's not enough. The mother can't...

When you have older kids, say between 10-15 years old, how much responsibility do you give them when it comes to babysitting their younger siblings (like a toddler)? I am usually responsible for my three-year old's needs - bathing, putting him to bed, playing with him - but at times, I ask...

Having five kids take up so much of my and my wife's time that we sometimes leave them at my mom's for a day or two. My mom initially was eager to help, but these last weeks, she only wanted two or three kids with her, and not all five of them. She said she couldn't keep up with our youngest...

My brother was in town last week and we got to talking about where my oldest would be studying in College (which would be in a couple of years). I told him my wife and I have decided to let our daughter study in the nearest university, as our foremost concern is her safety. My brother said...

It's the holidays and the family is invited from one dinner party to the next. While we can control what our kids eat at home, it's hard to do so when we're at someone else's house. How do you deal with it when something like this happens? Do you let your kids eat all they want (since it's...

With all the horrible things going on in the world - massacres, deadly typhoons and tsunamis, and many more - how do you talk to your kids about it when they ask? How do you assuage their fears? How do you assure them that they are safe?

When your kids are sick (fever, vomiting, flu, etc.), do you take them to the doctor right away or you give them some over-the-counter medicines first? When my youngest was sick with fever and flu, we waited for four days before we took him to his pediatrician. This was when the medicines we...

What do you think about your kids being too exposed? Let's face it, kids these days have instant access to almost everything (through the internet, TV, etc.) - violence, sex, and what-have-you's. Sometimes, I'm worried about what my children are learning from the games they play or the shows...

Who among you fathers here have teenagers? Do you get along with your teens? Do they still want to be hugged and kissed? How about the "I-don't-care" attitude? Is that normal at this age and if so, when will it go away? I have a fifteen-year-old daughter who used to be very sweet and...

As parents it is our responsibility to discipline our children and rear them to be well-balanced people. But, how do we differentiate the "just right" to the "really grave" kinds of punishment? What's the worst punishment you think you've given to your kid/s?

Have you read the news about a 23-year old mother who was sentenced to 99 years in jail for beating up her two year-old daughter, and gluing her hands on the wall? If what she did wasn't horrible enough, she also admitted to not feeling any remorse about what happened. Seriously? I think...

What do you guys think about Nannies? Do you have one or are you planning to hire one for your kid/s? What if the nanny turns out to be "evil" after all? My wife found out the other day that our three-year old son's classmate was actually molested by his nanny. The parents of the child...

Have you always provided well for your kids, in terms of their basic needs and even some of their "wants?" Was there ever a time when you were not able to give what they needed because of budget or time constraints? How did you address the situation and did your kids understand?

Do you give your kids a daily dose of vitamins? What kind are these and do they really work (like they don't get sick easily, or there is a significant change in their appetite, among others)?

How do you usually react when your kids break something - expensive chinaware, the TV, their toys, etc.? As for me, my initial reaction would be to yell at them. I know, it's not good and it just makes them feel all the more guilty than is necessary. My wife advised me to just bite my tongue...

Do you read to your kids at bedtime? How old were they when you started reading stories to them? When did you stop? I used to read to my kids every night, but it seems they've outgrown the stories (and me, as well) since they don't beg for it anymore like they used to when they were still...