Ask Dr. Joannie Questions
Grandchild Says “Don’t Embarrass Me!”
Question: My grandson is 10. He used to love spending the night with my husband and I, and he would beg to stay longer. However, this weekend I told him ...
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Teaching Self-Defense to Preschool Grandson
Question: My firstborn grandson is 3 1/2 years old. It seems it’s in the nature of most males to be wired for confrontation and “combat.” I’d like to teach my ...
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Lack of Motivation in Adult Grandson
Question: My grandson graduated from college in 2020 and has been unable to find work. To me, it looks like he has just given up and doesn’t seem to be ...
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Jealousy Between Grandparents-In-Law
Question: We have a situation in our family where the other set of grandparents is jealous of us. They live nearby our son and his family whereas we live 4 ...
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Helping Grandchildren With the Loss of a Parent
Question: My daughter-in-law recently died of cancer and my husband and I are providing before and after school childcare for our 4 grandchildren. All of them are grieving the loss ...
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Classmates’ Suicides Affecting Grandchild
Question: At my grandson’s high school, three of his classmates committed suicide this year. He is confused and upset and when he comes over to help me with yard work ...
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Discussing Poor Behavior of Grandchild With Parents
Question: What is the best way to address some poor behavior I’ve seen in my grandchildren, with my daughter and son-in-law? Response: It is best to mention what you have ...
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Connecting with Pre-Teen and Teen Grandkids
Question: I was very close with my three granddaughters until each one of them reached about 11 years of age. At that point, I noticed that they didn’t seem to ...
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“Mom Will Not Take Me to Church”
Question: My preteen granddaughter told me she has asked her Mom (my daughter) to take her to church several times. Mom says “ok” but never gets up in time to ...
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Same-Sex Attraction Dialogue Ideas for Grandparents
Question: How do we as parents and grandparents navigate very “liberal” views on same-sex attraction and LGBTQ issues with our grown children and grandkids? Response: The first thing that is ...
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