Adele Blair

QUESTION Dear Adele, Our six-year-old seems to have a low frustration tolerance. In our experience, he angers easily, raises his voice, and sometimes throws or breaks things. We are looking for ideas on how to deal with enraged behaviour and would appreciate your comments—many thanks. [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, I have heard the term sextortion, but what is it? As a parent of a teenager about to start high school, do I need to be worried about this? Uninformed ANSWER Dear Uninformed, According to Brieanna Charlebois of the Canadian Press, “Sexual extortion, [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, Last year our middle schooler frequently tried to avoid going to school. He skipped class several times, got behind in his assignments, and would regularly call us to pick him up at school for psychosomatic illnesses, such as headaches, diarrhea, or a racing heart. With [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, We understand you had successful careers as a teacher and a social worker. We wondered if you had any back-to-school tips for us and our elementary school children? Many thanks. Preemptors ANSWER Dear Preemptors, How wise you are, to be cutting some problems [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, Our nine-year-old is an excellent athlete. This September, he wants to play hockey, be in a swim club and take karate. We also have a six-year-old who wants to take music lessons, learn to skate and be involved in cubs. Somewhere, we would like to find some “Me” [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, We are young parents with two youngsters under six. We are looking for ideas about how to teach our children about money. Any suggestions? Fledgling Father ANSWER Dear Fledgling Father, According to Britannica “Money is a commodity accepted by general [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, What is ‘Gentle Parenting’? Just Wondering ANSWER Dear Just Wondering, ‘Gentle Parenting’ was invented by British childcare writer and parenting guru Sarah Ockwell-Smith. The jury is still out as to whether this parenting method is sufficiently [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, Our grandchildren are being raised in a privileged upper-income home where they have everything they could possibly want. However, despite economic advantages, the adolescents seem to be struggling with a number of issues including substance abuse and mild depression. This [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, Our beloved family pet, Baxter, a Labrador Retriever, will soon be crossing the Rainbow Bridge. We know our children will be devastated to lose the pet they have always known and who has offered them unconditional love. We are looking for ideas to help them through this most [...]

QUESTION Dear Adele, I am a 32-year-old single, childfree woman who is dating a 35-year-old man with two youngsters, ages five and ten. While I care for the children, I find them quite unmannerly. In my opinion they are often rude and do not seem to know the words ‘please’ and ‘thank [...]