Dear LFTP: the ex-husband who raised him versus the biological father
- Must a mother distance her son from the ex-husband who raised him?
A listener letter: her ex-husband raised her six-year-old son from infancy and they share a strong bond, but the boy's biological father now wants the son kept from the ex. The hosts land on keeping both men in the child's life — 'go with the one who acts most like a father' — suspect the biological father's motive is jealousy, advise co-parenting among the three adults, and suggest keeping an attorney in the back pocket if custody becomes a fight. The 'Secular' answer agrees: more love and positive reinforcement is better than less.
More on Parenting
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Dear LFTP: Champ the untrained dog and holding boundaries with your son
- How do I handle my son bringing his untrained dog Champ on our weekend grandson visits?
Mike reads the second letter: the writer hosts weekend grandson visits where her son Dennis brings Champ, an untrained destructive puppy that runs wild, barks, and digs.
From No. 586 · Nothing Personal
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Dear LFTP: wife mocks husband's bladder problem in public
- How should I respond when my wife mocks me and my bladder problem in public?
Mike reads a letter from a man married three years whose wife calls him vulgar names in public and makes his bladder-control problem into comedy.
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Dear LFTP: the birthday invitations
- Should parents be allowed to send birthday invitations to school when only select students are invited?
Mike reads the second letter: the parent of a special-needs pre-K child saw a Facebook group post exposing that her daughter was excluded from a birthday party.
From No. 574 · Starring Ted Danson as Joab
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Dear LFTP: Cindy's baby name ideas
- What should I do about my friend's terrible baby name choices?
Mike reads a letter from Dave about his longtime friend Cindy, six months pregnant, who keeps proposing names like chlamydia, bidet, chalet, and cliche because they sound pretty regardless of meaning.