Your Life
Undeniable Middle Age: What’s Important, What’s Not
Turning 45 forced me to accept that ominous “middle age” label, and to think about what matters to me now (and what has changed over time).
Health & Safety
Grandma Caught On Tape
Grandma was caught on tape losing her temper while watching her grandkids. A mom asks whether (and, if so, how) she should confront her very sensitive-to-criticism mom about the incident.
Pregnancy
The Anxiety-Inducing Mother-In-Law
When you know you need to set boundaries with your mother-in-law, especially as life becomes more intertwined with a baby on the way, but don’t know how.
Relationships
What to Do When Grandparents Play Favorites
Grandma is playing favorite amongst the cousins when it comes to gifts but addressing the issue is not as straightforward as you would think.
Relationships
Grandparenting From Around The Globe
Parents need advice and ideas on how to make their very young child feel more connected to one set of grandparents who live on the other side of the world. Weekly video conferences are just cutting it.
Big Kid
Hanging on for Dear Life in the River of Busy
In a two-career, two-teenager household, is it possible to step back from an atmosphere of constant “busy?” Maybe not, but I’m trying.
Relationships
Update On: The Homeless In-Laws
An update from a letter writer on a particularly hairy and sticky family situation and lessons learned for the future.
Toddler
How to Gender-Neutral Parent in a Family of Bias
A mom is very concerned about how her in-laws are subtly and overtly treating her toddler son vis-a-vis his female toddler cousin, which is dripping in gender-bias. She needs advice on how to handle this tricky family situation.
Pregnancy
Families, Pregnancy & WAY TOO MUCH ADVICE
An expectant mom is experiencing high anxiety from the extraordinary amount of very detailed and unsolicited advice she is getting from her mother and in-laws so early in her pregnancy. She needs help setting boundaries.
Holidays
The Friendship is Really Over When You Stop Sending a Holiday Card
When do you know it’s time to take someone off your holiday card list? Or is sending cards a life time commitment?
Pregnancy
Surprise Pregnancy at a Crossroads
A newly pregnant woman feels as if she is being forced to make some very big emotional and logistical decisions given her recent pregnancy news and her father’s terminal cancer diagnosis. But does she have other choices?
Big Kid
How To Help When Far-Away Family Is In Crisis
Today’s query asks if being far away means a concerned aunt can’t help her nephew, and my answer is that she can help more than she thinks.
Relationships
The Gift That Keeps On Giving: In-Law Drama
A mom is stuck in an awkward family situation with an in-law who is holding an unreasonable grudge. What can she do to make future family gatherings tolerable?
Relationships
Co-Parenting With a Mother-in-Law
Family history means that I’m now a step-mother and effectively co-parenting with my mother-in-law instead of an ex-wife. Please help.
Pregnancy
Toxic Families, Secret Pregnancies & Starting Over
Now that she’s expecting, a mom-to-be needs advice on how to maintain her relationship with one family member given that she has cut ties with all the rest of the toxic family.
Relationships
Helping a Spouse (or Significant Other/Partner) in Crisis
You can feel very helpless when a spouse (or significant other/partner) is in crisis. And it’s not always clear how to help them. But there is actually something you can do.
Relationships
Would It Kill You to Just Say Thank You?
What should this mom do about her family members who chronically don’t send thank you notes (or even acknowledge receipt) for the gifts she gives to the kids?
Relationships
First Birthday Family Drama
A new mom doesn’t want to her well-known family drama to bleed into and taint her daughter’s first birthday party. How can she maintain the peace?
Relationships
Help! We’re Moving & Driving Each Other Crazy!
Next month, my husband and I are moving our small family about an hour away from where we are now. My husband and I are taking very different packing approaches in how we’re preparing for his this move and we’re driving each other crazy because of it. How can we make this go smoother for our sanity?
Relationships
Dealing With the (Homeless) In-Laws
A young family’s house has been invaded by homeless in-laws who seem to have no motivation to leave and it’s disrupting her family’s life. The mother turns to Amalah for advice on how to manage this sticky situation with her husband and in-laws.