Family Friday Q & A: What do I tell my son about his absent dad?

Single Mom asks: My boyfriend left me when I was 10 weeks pregnant. I want to know how I should handle the topic of my son's father when it comes up. What should I say? How do I handle it so he doesn't feel like he was abandoned by a parent who didn't even know him?

Family Friday Q & A: Kinder Kindergarten Girls?

Worried Mom asks: My daughter came home from preschool and told me that the usual group of girls she plays with told her she couldn't play with them. My first reactions were sadness then outrage. Is it possible that she is being targeted by mean girls to the age of 4 or is this just a development stage I didn't know about? I asked my daughter if she'd like me to speak to her teacher or the mom's of the other girls but she said no. I am at a loss. Please help.

Family Friday Q & A: I don't want to fight about food!

Urban Mom asks: How do I keep food from becoming a battle?

Family Friday Q & A: How do I get my kids interested in sports?

Urban Mom asks: How do I get my kids interested in sports? Jennifer Kolari answers: This is an interesting one. It’s hard sometimes as a parent to know when to push our kids and when to let them make their own decisions. Some kids are born loving sports, it’s a big part of their identity: they live it and breathe it.

Family Friday Q & A: How Do We Deal with Mean Girls?

Special K asks: Q: My daughter is in Grade 5 and this is the time when girls start to become quite "cliquey": friends today, enemies tomorrow. How can I help her navigate all of that while still boosting her self esteem? Also, how do I get her ahead of the inevitable "peer pressure" stuff that happens later. I want her to have the confidence to speak out.

Family Friday Q & A: No Time to Connect with My Kids!!

Family Friday Q & A: Travelling dad feels left out

Dadweight asks: I've got 2 kids and my wife, a freelance writer, stays at home with them. I'm also the primary breadwinner for our family and I travel all the time for work. The kids are now 8 and 11 and I really feel like I barely know them and, well, my wife has little sympathy for me…she says "You're the one who chooses to be traveling 2 weeks a month."

Family Fridays Q & A: My toddler won't stop whining!

K's Mama asks: I could use some advice on disciplining toddlers. My two year old has started whining for everything and throwing tantrums when she doesn't get her way. Got any advice?

Family Friday Q & A: I'm raising a vegetarian

Meatless Mom asks: I'm raising my child vegetarian. Now that she's close to turning three, she's starting to notice when others are eating meat. What's the smartest way to handle the situation without turning her eating habits into a power struggle?

Family Fridays Q & A: My child is always lying!

Beacher Mom asks: I would like to know how to deal with an 8-year-old who has no trouble lying straight to my face, repeatedly, sometimes about very silly things (like not eating lunch) but sometimes about more serious things that are harder to find out the truth about. HELP!

Family Fridays Q & A: My child lacks empathy

Q: I have a seven-year-old who is completely devoid of empathy and a four-year-old who has extra to spare. Can empathy be taught?

Family Fridays Q & A: I dislike my child's friend

Every Friday, we'll answer one question sent in from slice.ca readers to Jennifer Kolari, family therapist and author of Connected Parenting. Have a dilemma you want Jennifer to help with? Visit our Family Fridays page to post your question.

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