Question:

My 14 year old daughter is dating a non-Christian boy. I think this is not right, but my wife has no problem with it. As a matter of fact my wife is also very obsessed with the boy. She wants him to come over all the time. It seems that she is re-living her younger days through the relationship. Just two weeks ago she was diagnosed with major depression. In conclusion I feel lost and am fighting many different battles. What should I do first?

Answer:

First, I think that you should work on your relationship with your wife. It sounds like she needs your love and attention right now.

You state that your wife was diagnosed with major depression. Does this mean that she is now on medication? If so, it may take some time for her to adjust to the right amounts or type of medication. She needs your support through this. Also, is she involved in counseling for the depression? Treating depression medically, without working to sort out the underlying causes of depression can be very unhealthy. Again, she needs your support.

Regarding your daughter, while I don't know the history of how you and your wife make decisions about your daughter, I would suggest that you be sure to talk over these differences of opinion and try to come to some agreement on what your dating standards will be.

Lastly, I would suggest that you be sure to find someone you trust (a friend, your pastor, a Christian counselor) who you can talk these things over with - someone who can provide you with the support you need in addition to their wise counsel.