Dear Mr. Dad: I don’t know how to put this nicely, but my seven-year-old son is a liar, a cheater, and a thief. He fibs—usually straight to my face—every chance he gets, and after several recent trips to grocery stores, I found that he’d stolen some small items. What have my wife and I done...Continue reading
Category: Parenting
A Family Affair: Bringing Your Kids into Your Business
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m in my 60s and have been thinking about retiring from the small-ish company that my great-grandfather founded nearly 100 years (I’m the CEO). We made it through the COVID pandemic, and I’ve been thinking a lot about retiring and bringing my adult children in to learn the ropes. This isn’t exactly...Continue reading
Disciplining Stepchildren: Can You? Should You?
Dear Mr. Dad: I recently got remarried and really want to make my relationship with my new wife a success. One of the things I love about her is that she’s a great mother. I really like her kids 7 and 11), but ever since we got married, they treat me horribly. They’re rude, refuse...Continue reading
Maternity Leave: Great Idea, but What About Dad?
Dear Healthy Men: I just read that the United States is one of the only industrialized countries in the world without a paid maternity leave program. Where do you stand on that issue? A: We support it—and we’re glad to see that President Joe Biden and others in his administration have come out in support of...Continue reading
Overcoming Picky Eating
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a single dad and I love cook. I make a special point of preparing meals I think my kids will like—or at least eat! But time after time I find myself dumping perfectly good, untouched food into leftover containers, or worse, into the trash. The kids seem to want nothing but...Continue reading
How to Help Your Kids Make New Friends
Having friends is not just fun but very important for children. Friendships give kids a sense of belonging and help them with developing various social skills. However, all children are different, so it is only natural that some have difficulties making friends. If you think you recognize your kids in this sentence, don’t worry. There...Continue reading
How Your Relationships with Your Children Change When They Leave Home
Dear Mr. Dad: Our daughter is going away to college. On one hand, I’m thrilled that she’s becoming so independent. But we’ve always been very close and I’m worried that our relationship will suffer. Will it? A: Well, the day you’ve hoped for and dreaded is finally here. Your child is going to move out. Some...Continue reading
Labor and Delivery: The Dad’s Role
Dear Mr. Dad: My wife is due in about a month and I’m already in a panic. We took a childbirth prep class, but I’m convinced that I won’t know what to do—or, worse still, that I’ll do something wrong—when labor starts. I’m wondering whether I should just step away and let the doctors and...Continue reading
Resilience: The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Children
Dear Mr. Dad: Of all the non-material things parents can give to their children, what do you think is the most important? A: Well, that’s about as close to an impossible question as I’ve ever been asked. Of course, happiness comes to mind. But then so does the ability to form close, loving relationships. So does...Continue reading
Make Every Bite Count, Even Little Bites!
Hey, parents! Here’s some great information on children’s nutritional needs–from a true expert in the field. The period from birth until a child’s second birthday is a critically important time for growth and development. Nutrition during this early stage of life not only affects the health of the growing child, but may continue to affect...Continue reading