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Helping Kids Plan Their Futures

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY With Jim Daly Q: How can I help my adolescent son settle on a vocation and make wise plans for the future? He seems to be thinking more seriously about career choices and wondering what to do with his life. Jim: First, I'd suggest exposing him to as many different occupations as possible. Give him a taste of the wide variety of career choices available today. Help him discover his God-given talents, interests, abilities and strengths. If he's fascinated with medicine, set up a time for him to talk with your physician about the demands and rewards of this ...

Most Patients Are Happy to Have Surgical Hardware Removed

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am anxious to know your opinion regarding removal of surgical hardware. Fourteen months ago, I broke and dislocated my wrist. It was a serious injury and required surgery. They put in a cadaver bone, a plate and eight screws. My recovery has gone quite well, and I have pretty good mobility and strength considering how bad the injury was. However, at times I have sudden jabbing pain about where the hardware is. If I do any heavy lifting or strenuous work, that spot in particular hurts for days after. I’ve had an MRI and X-ray that show the hardware is good and ...

Woman Wonders Why Son Didn’t Reveal Partner’s Miscarriage

DEAR ABBY: I thought my son and I were close. Recently, I learned that his girlfriend had a miscarriage. I learned about it from an email his girlfriend sent me, and I have also learned he told another relative he’s close to about the miscarriage. I called his girlfriend after receiving her email and expressed my sympathy, inquired about her health and told her that I would keep her and my son in my prayers. My feelings are hurt because I didn’t hear about the pregnancy/miscarriage from my son, and he disclosed it to another relative instead. I thought we could discuss anything -- ...

2020 Holiday Celebrations and The Virus

The year 2020 started out with such promise: A new year, a new decade, and as Hope Springs Eternal maybe your favorite football team will play in the Super Bowl. Then a pesky haloed single strand RNA virus stopped the world! Suddenly, our vocabulary expanded with words like: Outbreak, Epidemic, Pandemic, Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Community Spread, Index Case, Super Spreader, Isolation, Quarantine, Containment, Mitigation, Contact Tracing, Shelter-In-Place, Flattening the Curve, Herd Immunity, Antigens, Antibodies, PCR-testing, Hand hygiene, Hybrid Schooling, Risk Benefit ...

Take a Moment And Write

Dear Heloise: I know some people have more time on their hands these days and ask how they should fill the hours. I’ve recently started writing letters to seniors in assisted living or nursing facilities. Many can no longer have visitors or go on outings to fill their days. I found a website that collects and sends out letters to seniors in isolation, letting them know they are on people’s minds. I’ve sent letters to seniors in Canada, Minnesota and Illinois. I’m not creative, so I just write letters like I would to an acquaintance. I talk about the area I live in, and if ...

Grandma Raising Young Girls Grows Tired Of Mom’s Antics

DEAR ABBY: I am raising my two granddaughters and trying to allow their mother, my daughter, to visit with them. My problem is, the entire time she is with us, she stays on her phone or Snapchat. Last weekend, I drove to the place where she resides, and the whole time we were there she ignored the girls. I have a ton of family and friends who say I’m wrong for allowing her to even see the girls, period. I don’t want to be the bad guy when they grow up. Help, Abby. — FOR THEIR GOOD IN OHIO DEAR FOR THEIR GOOD: Either your daughter doesn’t know how to relate to her children, ...