Ask Lisa

Becoming empty-nesters as your children move out into the world is emotionally complicated, but it also creates a practical challenge, one that might involve Marie Kondo more than Dr. Phil. Specifically: what do you do with all their stuff? When my children…

This week’s question centers around youth engaging in self-harm. A parent writes: I watched one of your recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey presentations and was taken aback by the data around self-harm: 80 middle and 111 high schoolers are hurting themselves, on…

When teens falter and opt out of an obligation, how do we best support them—by honoring their withdrawal, or by urging them to work past inner misgivings and fulfill their original goals? That’s the question behind a parent’s concern: My 14-year-old recently…

Is it possible for parents to engage their teen children in real conversations? One parent wrote me: We have two teens, ages 14 and 16. They are good kids (so far!), but I am sad that they have no interest in hearing…

Ask Lisa: Guidance on Weight Gain This month’s column addresses a challenging issue. A parent writes: My daughter, a recent college graduate, has put on a lot of weight (upwards of 50 pounds) over the last several years. I realize this is…

A parent reached out to me with a question concerning her college sophomore: “His freshman year didn’t go well academically. My husband and I chalked it up to the inevitable challenges of adjusting to college. But we just reviewed his latest grades,…

Raising a family is daunting at the best of times. Juggling work, housework, and kids’ activities can be exhausting. Managing a long-term illness on top of this adds a unique set of challenges. One parent, who was diagnosed with a chronic illness…