Hi, My name is Julie, and I have a sixteen year old daughter. I also have two other children by a different man. Here is the story . My daughter doesn’t understand the concept of child support and how it is supposed to be distributed and I feel as if her father has been putting things in her head. She feels as if she’s entitled to the money I’m getting, and she doesn’t understand the concept of paying bills, sending her to school, and buying food for the house directly or indirectly benefit her. Recently she wrote me a letter which reads. Dear Mom, I really love you, and I do not want to be disrespectful, but my dad tells me how much he pays you in child supporting he showed me. I just don’t understand how my dad pays $1900.00 in child support, and when I ask for something, you say no. I also know that you use the money my dad sends to take care of Michelle and Thomas. If I ask for something, it is always a problem, and you threaten to take away my phone when I do things you don’t like. If it wasn’t for me being here and my dad paying, I know you wouldn’t be able to keep the house. I feel like you are taking advantage of me living here because I don’t benefit from my father paying child support, and I want to go live with my dad. I hope you don’t make it into a big deal. I do love you, but I believe it’s very unfair . I am very sad and disappointed that my daughter is thinking this way, and I’m sure she is way better off living with me . How should I handle this situation? Is my daughter being ungrateful and rude ? Am I taking it the wrong way ? What’s your take ?

Violence among youth in Jamaica: a growing public health risk and challenge The recent surge in violent incidents among students in Jamaica is alarming and demands immediate attention. This trend not only affects the educational sector but also has far-reaching consequences for the country’s social and economic development. Violence among youth is a complex issue, stemming from various factors such as – Social and economic inequalities – Family dynamics and parenting styles – Access to weapons and substance abuse – Mental health and trauma – Societal norms and cultural influences. What are some reasons that you believe are causing this level of violence Amongst our children And, what can be done to stem this increasing violence? We must come together and join forces to stop this trend from getting worse. Share your thoughts and suggestions so we can have a robust debate

Sarah*, 32, has been with her fiance for four years, and they are meant to be getting married this fall But, there’s a fairly fundamental part of their relationship missing. Intimacy. ‘I’m struggling and need advice,’ Sarah said. ‘I’m a very sexually expressive person who loves fun, spontaneous, and kinky intimate interactions. ‘It’s a part of who I am and how I express myself. Most people wouldn’t know this meeting me – like a lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets. ‘Well, I’ve had to give up all that with my fiance.’ For many people, sex goes hand-in-hand with an intimate relationship, especially if you’re about to be husband and wife, although this isn’t the case for Sarah.‘He has a fear of intimacy, no desire for it, performance problems, and so on,’ she explained . ‘He… doesn’t even masturbate or watch porn as much, as I encourage him to, so he can figure out what he likes. ‘It’s been the core of our relationship issues since we started dating.’ Despite the lack of intimacy being a major issue for Sarah, she hasn’t wanted to ‘give him up’ because she loves ‘absolutely everything’ about her husband-to-be. She loves his ‘kind soul, big heart’ and his work ethic, but now the wedding is nearing, Sarah has realised she’s lost a part of who she is. ‘I’ve sacrificed a part of who I am for years. I thought maybe after a year or two, it would subside, but it hasn’t,’ she said. ‘We go three to eight months without being intimate, and it’s hurting me so bad. ‘We’ve tried therapy, medication, scheduled times, everything, but nothing works.’ She branded her husband ‘vanilla’, and wrote: ‘When we get the opportunity it’s like we just get it done, quick in missionary, before it goes away for him, which I’m happy to do to make him happy and confident.’ ‘He even admits he’s vanilla. Since we started dating, I first asked him about swinging because that’s my kink level, and that was shot down. ‘I’m just at the point where I don’t know what to do anymore, and it’s affecting me so much emotionally and physically.’ I need some advice, I’m drowning here!