Dear Family Coach: My son turns 18 in a couple of weeks, and for his birthday he asked me to take him to a strip club. I'm divorced from his mom, and he knows I go to gentleman's clubs every so often. But this feels sort of ... wrong. How should I handle this? — A Gentleman

Dear Gentleman: A gentleman? I'm not so sure. As a woman, I have a hard time with educating children to view other women solely as sex objects placed on the planet to satisfy the male sex drive. It's true that your son is 18 and legally an adult. But you indoctrinated him into this culture years ago when you let him know of your interest in watching naked women dance around you for money.

Women have every right to make money as they so choose. But most women at that club are probably dancing because they are out of options. They may make good money, but at what cost? You didn't mention a daughter, but if you had one, would you want her dancing for men like you? I doubt most parents dream of this life for their girls.

Handle this situation as a true gentleman. Explain to your son that you were inconsiderate visiting the strip club. Tell him you didn't realize those types of clubs contribute to the chauvinistic culture that consistently keeps women from receiving equal opportunities and earning the same salary as men. Remind him that those women are more than their bodies and deserve to be treated as such. Furthermore, the relationships men have with women in the strip club are farcical. Do you really want your son getting accustomed to women fawning all over him and listening with empathy only because they are being paid? I've got a better idea. Take him on a fishing trip; go out for a nice steak dinner; or discover a new hobby together. It will strengthen your bond with your son in more ways than any gentleman's parlor could.

Dear Family Coach: My daughter is at sleep-away camp for four weeks. She was very excited to go. But now she is asking to come home early. Her counselors assure me she is having a great time and isn't homesick. Should I listen to them and leave her, or listen to her and pick her up early? — Missing My Kid

Dear Mom: You should listen to both your child and the counselor. Here's why: Your daughter needs to feel as if she isn't forgotten. If you ignore her pleas to return home, she might feel like you don't care about her. This will only exacerbate the problem. However, if you only listen to your daughter, you might miss a large part of the picture.

At overnight camp, children's moods and emotions are all over the map. One minute, a child might be on an all-time high after passing the deep-water test. A few hours later, a letter from home may make her feel sad and alone. But this sadness might pass as quickly as it came. The problem is the letters you received might have been written in precisely that moment. I would check in with the camp every other day to see how your daughter is progressing. Tell them to let you know if they feel she isn't taking advantage of activities or seems to be shying away from making friends. Also, write encouraging words to your daughter. Tell her how proud you are of her accomplishments. Explain that she doesn't have to attend camp again but that she should try to stick it out until the end.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.