Parenting

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.

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.

Brooke's Mom Thinks She Is After Her Boyfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Brooke and her mom have not exactly gotten along for the past several years. Her mom has been in a long distance relationship with a guy who recently visited. Mom asked Brooke to email him the photos from his trip which she did. Suddenly Mom is accusing her of stealing her boyfriend!

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.

Is Michelle Forever Tied To The Woman Who Ruined Her Family?

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Michelle's son is 24, and just found out his girlfriend is pregnant. This is the same girl, when he was 17, that introduced him to Oxycontin and other drugs, resulting in a very serious addiction. Overcoming the drugs, he got back with the girl recently, only to have her break up and run to another guy. Two weeks later, she's back with her son..... AND pregnant.

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.

Tess's Son Is Being Abused By His Girlfriend

Dr. Dale Archer — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Tess's 21 year old son has been in an on-again-off-again relationship for several years, and she's now pregnant. This girlfriend has hit her son, one time giving him a black eye. She makes him switch cell phones, so she is assured he isn't talking to someone he shouldn't be, even though she has cheated on him several times. The girlfriend has told her that once the baby arrives, Tess will never see it. She wants to know how to help her son realize this is a bad relationship.

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!

Elizabeth Keeps Her Ex To Babysit Her 8 Year Old Daughter

Dr. Dale Archer — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth is 48 with an 8 year old daughter. She dated a man for a while, but all he wanted to do was go drinking with his friends, and he stood her up a few times as well, so she moved out but they kept dating. Now they're apart, but she keeps him around to watch her daughter while she works. They got into another argument and now she needs him to babysit, but he is demanding it his way.

Mary Is Afraid She's Losing Her Daughter

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Mary left her husband and took their daughter away when the child was but a baby. Now the daughter is 30, a psychotherapist and is pushing her mother away. Seems she'd rather talk to her dad and his mother, while telling her mom she needs space. She is very upset that her daughter is going to parties where alcohol will be served as she wasn't raised that way. Plus, she is upset that her daughter had WHISKEY in her house! This was never a part of their lives, and she blames the new man she's dating. The more she tries to advise and tell her daughter what to do, the worse it gets. She insists she knows what is best, but daughter won't listen and keeps pushing further away. Thoughts for Mary?

Pam Is Losing Her Son To An Atheist

Dr. Dale Archer — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:06:00 GMT

Pam's son is 21 years old, and she's afraid his girlfriend and her family are taking her son from her. He no longer spends much time at her house since he and the girlfriend moved into an apartment together. He did not go to his brother's graduation, but rather went on vacation with her family. Pam is very religious and thinks the girl's family are atheists and that this could be the problem. She wonders how to not lose her son completely. I tell her what I think. Now it's your turn.

D's Son Has Lost Respect For Her

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:00:18 GMT

D and her husband recently separated after a 12 year marriage. His dad told him his mother has been intimate with the men she's dating, and he has screamed at her, cursing, and attacked a punching bag until he tore a hole in it. One night D lost it, hitting him with a belt and told him to go live with his dad. Is there a way to repair this mother/son relationship?

Pam's Son's Girlfriend Has Turned Against Her

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:00:33 GMT

Pam loves her son, who is 17. He has been dating his girlfriend for two years, and although she started out as sweet and polite, she now says she feels she has to compete with her. She has to be with him all the time, even going to his place of employment often. She deletes anything Pam posts to his facebook wall, and she even blocked her from his page. Her son says he doesn't know how it happened, and the girlfriend says she didn't do it. She's afraid she's losing her son. What should she do? What would YOU do?

Mya Reconnected With Her Father In A Most Unfortunate Way

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:52 GMT

Mya's father left home when she was only 5. At 16, she found him, and made the plane trip to his country. He met her at the airport, and she was so happy to reconnect with her father, then he had sex with her the first night, telling her it was a custom in his country and wasn't a big deal. She remained with him for over a year, admitting she was in love with him, but so hurt and confused as well. Now, 20 years later, she wonders why he did that and whether it ruined her for life. Thoughts?

I Don't Mind My Son Having A Girlfriend -- JUST NOT HER!

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:46 GMT

I don't hate her; I actually like her. But she is all wrong and it's noticeable. Now I find out he has been seeing her on occasion. I understand liking her, but I do not want my son to make a mistake with her.

My Son's Girlfriend Is Wrong For Him

Dr. Dale Archer — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:00:00 GMT

My son is 17, graduated high school and works full time. His girlfriend is older, still in high school and has no responsibilities. He admits she's controlling, spoiled and irresponsible, but now they want her to move in with us!

How Do I Know I'm Doing The Right Thing?

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 06:00:00 GMT

My daughter and I are moving away with my boyfriend at the end of the summer. Now I'm dreaming about an ex, and wondering if I'm a good enough mom for my daughter! Is this just stress, or is this telling me I'm making a huge mistake?

My Daughter Keeps Making The Same Mistakes

Dr. Dale Archer — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:00:24 GMT

My daughter was rebellious and didn't want to follow the house rules so, at age 18, she left and took off with the first guy who offered her a home with his parents.

How Do I Get Over Feeling Worthless?

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:00:38 GMT

My childhood was a disaster. My father was an alcoholic who was violent and verbally abusive to my mom and me. He was very dominating. I couldn't develop my social skills, as I was not allowed to interact with neighbors or other people.

How Can I Keep my Daughter Safe?

Dr. Dale Archer — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:00:27 GMT

Last November my daughter was at a party with girlfriends. She admits to drinking and taking a Xanax pill. While in a blackout, a young man, who had just broken up with his girlfriend, took advantage of her, in my estimation.

I Want to Start Dating, But What About My Children?

Dr. Dale Archer — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:22:29 GMT

I think I am ready to start dating but am worried about the effect this might have on my sons.