Parenting

Arlene's Daughter Keeps Pushing Her Away

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Arlene has a 22 year old daughter. They've always had a strained relationship and she believes it because she spoiled her as a child. Now as an adult she does whatever, whenever, whoever.

R's Mother Has Become So Angry!

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

R's 64 year old mom has always been nice and easy going. One day while in the car line to pick up her granddaughter from school, a teacher pointed her out and motioned to pull up to let traffic flow by. Her mom was furious she was the one targeted!

Should 'Hurt Girlfriend' Stay Or Go?

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

"Hurt Girlfriend", 30, has been with her 32 year old boyfriend for six years. He shuts himself from others, would rather masturbate than have sex and is unsympathetic to any problem she may have.

Victoria's Daughter Doesn't Provide Stability For Her Child

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Victoria has recently divorced and moved in with her daughter and granddaughter. Her daughter acts bipolar and leaves periodically to take trips with men she met online. Often she's either on her computer for hours or sleeping all day. There's no structure or routine, and her granddaughter doesn't know why mom has no rules.

Jennifer's Daughter Is Out Of Control

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Jennifer's 16 year old daughter is refusing to do homework, and is dressing like a street walker, smoking and drinking. She even created a facebook page and posted half naked pictures of herself.

Judy Is Afraid To Tell Her Parents She Has A Boyfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Judy is 22 and in love. She has been in a relationship for a year, seven of them long distance. Not only is she afraid to tell the parents about the boyfriend, but she plans on moving to his country soon.

Stacey Doesn't Know What To Do With Her Boyfriend's Mother

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Stacey and her boyfriend have been together almost three years and lived together for 18 months. His mother has never cut the cord, and she's tired of her coming to visit and disrespecting HER home. Her boyfriend is caught in the middle, and the last time she visited they all ended up fighting.

Melissa Is Tired Of Being The Scapegoat Of The Family

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Melissa and her father have been at odds for years. She tells it like it is and is very upfront confronting issues, while he is very secretive. He also drinks too much. He never owns up to his own problems, and prefers to make her the scapegoat -- for everything!

Anna's Father Says She Is A Loser

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Anna's father always told her she wasn't good enough, that she was a loser and constantly negatively compared her to others her age. Of course, she now thinks she's not good enough for anything.

Sarah Loves Her Daughter, But Will No Longer Tolerate Her Behavior

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Sarah divorced her husband 10 years ago. She and her husband had the two girls 50/50. When her oldest daughter turned 16 she chose to live with dad. She treated her the way her dad treated her, too, yelling, swearing and throwing objects at her.

Anita's Granddaughter Is A Pathological Liar

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Ania's daughter was arrested for drunk driving when she had an accident whith her two babies in the car. Now she has custody of her grandchildren, and they're both in extensive therapy. Despite this, the granddaughter is showing signs of following in her mother's footsteps and is already a pathological liar.

Should Betsey Apologize For Being Kind To Her Father-In-Law?

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Betsey's father-in-law is unwelcome at family gatherings because of bigoted remarks he's made way in the past. One of his sons advised Betsey not to invite him to her daughter's wedding. She didn't, but when she received a Christmas card from him, she returned the gesture, and included an update letter which mentioned both the wedding and the fact that he's now a great grandfather. Her brother-in-law is now angry with her.

T's Parents Want Her To Contribute Financially

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 GMT

T is 19, and is from a financially strapped family. She's never gone out to movies with friends, or done anything that costs money. Since her parents couldn't afford much, she considers herself a miser and saves every penny.

Divye's Parents Have Chosen Her Career

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Divye is distraught. She loves and has a natural talent for physics and math, and wants to be an engineer. Her parents, however, insist she go to medical school even though she cannot memorize facts easily and hates biology.

Elizabeth's Mother Can't Remember Anything

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth is concerned about her 64 year old mother. She can't remember anything, has the same conversation several times a day, forgets what TV she's watched after 10 minutes, forgets how to pay bills and even forgets her grandchildren's names.

Worried Mother Is Worried About Her Son's Girlfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:00:00 GMT

"Worried Mother" is very concerned about her son's choice of girlfriend. She's overbearing, manipulative and controlling, and most likely has Borderline Personality Disorder. She and her family have a stranglehold over him. She wants to blame the two high school years when he lived with his father for this weakness, because.... what else could it be?

FG Is Upset Her Son Has A Controlling Girlfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 06:00:00 GMT

FG admits to be a controlling mother who made decisions for her son. Now her son is away at college, but she's upset because his girlfriend is ALSO controlling and is making decisions for him -- and they're bad decisions! They're sacrificing plenty to send him to an out of state college, and now he's moving out of the dorm into an expensive apartment because that's what the girlfriend says.

Anita's Elderly Father Refuses To Use A Walker

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Anita feels very lucky. Both of her parents are in their 80s and live in their own home. Her dad, however, is now unsteady with his cane but refuses to use a walker. She asks how she can get her dad to accept that he'd be safer using a walker?

Denise Is Devastated Her Daughter Won't Return Her Granddaughter

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Denise's daughter had her own child when she was 16. After the birth, she left the baby with Denise and didn't look back. Now, eleven years later, her daughter is living with her mother. She asked for her daughter to let the girl spend the weekend, but she refuses. She wants to know what she, as the grandmother, can do.

Lauren Doesn't Know How To Help Her 13 Year Old Son

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Lauren has a 13 year old son who has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, OCD and Asperger's. He goes to therapy but doesn't take his medication. He doesn't want to go to school -- but when he goes he insists mom drive him (which is hard on her) rather than taking the bus. He sleeps all day, spends all day and night in his room on his computer, has already had an online gay relationship and is withdrawing from the world.

Nan's 25 Year Old Son Is Being Physically Abused

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Nan has a 25 year old son who has been seeing his girlfriend for three years. The problem is that this girl is manipulative and controlling. She has physically attacked him and cheated on him twice -- that they know of -- but probably more. She texts him constantly when they're not together, and he no longer takes calls or emails from his friends.

Diann's Son Is Ruining Their Family Due To A 15 Year Old Girlfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Diann has an 18 year old son who is dating a 15 year old girl. All he can think about is this girl, and he won't give his family the time of day. When she talks to him, all she sees is the back of his head, as he immediately turns his back. This girl controls everything he does. Mom asks for one day a week as a family, but he picks a fight and runs away to the girl after an hour. The other children are seeing their brother's behavior and starting to act out. She asks for advice on what to do?

Sydney's Mother Doesn't Like Her Friends

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Sydney is 19, and is in her last year of college. Her last class dismisses at 2pm, and her family expects her home by 2:30. She's not allowed to talk to her friends, because they're not the influential students her mother wants her to associate with. Mom tells her to get new friends. She is excelling in school, so what gives?

Helen's Mother Thinks Her Boyfriend Is Not Good Enough

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Helen and her boyfriend have been together for a while and have a 4 year old son. They moved in together, but her mother said if she married him, she'd disown her forever, prompting her to move back home. The problem? He's not college educated, not handsome and can't support her in the style mom deems appropriate, though their combined income is $85,000 per year. She asks what to do, stay home and move on or go back to the boyfriend?

Louise's Boyfriend Allows His Daughter And Her Son To Disrespect Them

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Louise moved back in with her boyfriend a month ago. The problem is that his daughter and her son are both overcoming their addictions and live with them. They act like they don't want her there, and disrespect both her and her boyfriend. She wants a life with him, but it's all about them!