They never want to hang out. Don’t jump to conclusions, says our elder. Reach out to them in an honest and caring manner to find out. Dear EWC Lately I…
Saying no to a narcissist
My friend only cares about herself. How can I learn to say no to her? If you want to be rid of her, then you’ll need to set some boundaries,…
My friend is a drain
She’s always crying about her problems. Is this a normal part of friendship? It does sound one-sided, says our elder. Maybe it’s time to have an honest conversation. Dear…
Lots of friends but still lonely
I’m popular at school, but I still feel that I can’t talk to anyone about my grief for my dad. It’s hard to open up, says our elder. But why…
I care for my parents…
And now it’s too late to have my own life. Our elder has some ideas of how a letter writer can stop resenting her elderly parents and start building the…
Should I just stay out of it?
I want to help a friend who’s having a hard time, but my mom says she’s just another one of my ‘stray dogs’. Who’s right? I’m with your mom on…
The lingering toll of 2020
Lockdown. Quarantine. Safer at home. Who hasn’t lost touch with friends? Our elder suggests that this high-school grad take the lead to reconnect with classmates. Read on for her ideas…
Friends for now or forever
How to keep FaceTime friendships alive when life goes offline? Keeping in touch requires commitment, says our elder—no matter where you connect. Dear EWC: Hi, I am in the 7th…
Show me the money!
Lending to a friend is… Awkward. But when he rarely pays it back? Don’t bank on him changing, says our elder. You have to say, “No more.” Dear EWC: One…
When to re-friend
It was a bad fight but she misses her friend. Should they reconnect? Our elder suggests weighing the pros and cons before reinvesting in the friendship. Dear EWC: I’m in…