ArcaMax

Q: My father taught me to be tough, work hard, and make my own way in life. He was a no-nonsense man who didn't share his feelings. My wife gets frustrated because I'm the same way with our son. I'm curious -- what's your take on such things?

Jim: I suppose in some ways I can understand; my own upbringing was pretty rough with no fatherly ...Read more

Q: I'm (clumsily) adjusting to being a now-single mom. I feel inadequate and I'm really worried about raising my 8-year-old son on my own. Do you have any advice?

Jim: Parenting solo is tough. Raising a boy can present some unique challenges for a single mother, so I want to encourage you: You CAN do this!

One of the most important things to ...Read more

Q: My wife and I both actively use (and enjoy) various social media platforms. But it seems like the tech is starting to dominate our lives -- and even negatively impact our marriage. Do you have any insights?

Jim: It might sound cliche, but as in so many areas of life, the simplest solution makes the most sense: You just need to take control. ...Read more

Q: We adopted our teenage son at his birth and we've never hidden that fact from him. But recently he's become almost obsessed with the topic -- and especially his birth parents (who unfortunately did not maintain contact). If he gets upset he shouts that we aren't his "real" mom and dad. This is devastating to us; we love him so much and want ...Read more

Q: How can we make family meals a priority when we're all so busy? Our schedules are nuts. Whether I'm working from home or go to the office, I often don't finish until at least 6 p.m. Then I have to fix dinner while the hungry crew waits impatiently -- or just does their own thing.

Jim: Let's start by acknowledging that as a working mom with a...Read more