Christmas vacation surprise

November 22, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver When our son Chad drives home from college over school breaks, within minutes of his arrival my wife and I go to work sorting and then washing what seems like an entire trunk load of soiled clothing. It is...

My brother’s keeper

March 26, 2007 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Mr. Beaver, I am very concerned about my 17-year-old brother, Daniel. He was recently expelled from school for fighting and possession of marijuana, and his behavior has suddenly changed. He is very unpleasant,...

No ice cream for his daughter

July 14, 2007 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver I read two of your columns that deal with a situation we are facing at home with our 16-year-old daughter, Kelly. In one, you talked about what can happen if you loan your car to a friend who causes an accident....

Manners or a lawsuit?

April 7, 2006 (Original publish date) • By Dennis Beaver Costco has become a great weekend hangout for the entire family. Where else can you spend hours walking indoors where it’s nice and warm in winter, or cool in summer, and get to munch on all kinds of free...

How to raise a future gang member

October 26, 2013 • By Dennis Beaver What turns a 14-year-old junior high school student into a gang member? Do kids just decide one day to join a gang, or is there a process? More importantly, are there warning signs in a child’s behavior screaming “I am headed down...