Dear Mary-anne. My mother smacked my four-year old daughter.
Grandparents need to be treasured – not used – and they may also need a break from childcare.
Dear Mary-anne. Why all the fuss about bullying?
Older generations may have seen bullying as a rite of passage but that's not the case today.
Dear Mary-anne. I'm letting my son's family share my house. Am I setting myself up for trouble?
My friend thinks i’m setting myself up for trouble.
Dear Mary-anne. My father's Facebook conspiracy theories are frightening my children.
Conspiracy theorists waste valuable time, energy and resources.
Dear Mary-anne: My 'cool' dad is a total embarrassment.
It can be tough being the parent, you know — we're all just expired teenagers.
Dear Mary-anne. I'm in my 70s, of sound mind, lonely and I think my children neglect me.
The best way to find your people is to give something – whether it’s making morning teas for meetings or working at libraries.
Dear Mary-anne. My daughter is pregnant with her seventh child, I'm scared she wants more.
Being a grandparent is a privilege. Rather than criticise, be there and enjoy the ride.
Dear Mary-anne: My in-laws do not like me and my children.
I don't have support from anyone. If I talk about this situation to my husband, or other Indian family members, they are the favoured ones and they don't want to help.
Dear Mary-anne: I want Mum to apologise for my lousy childhood.
As I've grown older it's become clear that I never got the parenting I needed.
Dear Mary-anne: My friend keeps running down her younger daughter.
My friend does not miss an opportunity to run her younger daughter down.
Dear Mary-anne. I've been secretly ringing my partner's mother.
It would be helpful to know if your partner has been traumatised by something in his childhood.
Dear Mary-anne. My son-in-law drank all our booze.
It's not uncommon for some adult children to go on holiday with their parents and resort to childlike behaviour.
Dear Mary-anne: My wife isn't happy about my Dad's grandparenting style
Only some children are lucky enough to have an elderly person in their lives who loves them and is prepared to teach them things.
Dear Mary-anne: My mother-in-law could ruin Christmas
My mother-in-law criticises everything about my 14-year-old daughter.
Dear Mary-anne: My elderly mother is too controlling
It can be hard to break destructive patterns of behaviour in relationships or to know when the right time is to stop being the obedient "child", writes Mary-anne Scott.
Dear Mary-anne: My daughter won't let me babysit any more
It is not easy when your loved ones will not give you a chance to speak and explain yourself.
Dear Mary-anne: Help, my heavy drinking in-laws are coming for Christmas
The festive season should be about children and memories, rather than alcohol
Dear Mary-anne: How can I stop my daughter's abuse?
What would you do if your daughter abused you?