LIFE

Dear Carol,
My friend tells her mom everything, and I mean everything. She even spills my secrets, so I don't share them with her anymore. She thinks that her mother's opinion is the truth. When my other friends and I tease her (she teases us a lot too), she'll say something like, "You really know how to make someone feel bad." Then she tells her mom! I'm afraid this will make her mom dislike us, even though my friend knows we were just teasing her.
—Upset Friend

Dear Upset Friend,
Some teenagers take to screaming, "I hate you, Mom!" while slamming the door behind them. Others hold on to their parents so tightly that it takes a bit longer for those girls to develop their independence. The trick is to become your own person without hating your parents...or clinging to them. This can sometimes take years! For whatever reason, your friend isn't ready to step away from her mother just yet, and there's not a whole lot you can do about it. However, you and your friends should cut back on the teasing because, no matter if it's in good fun, it can hurt. Be patient with your friend and, if you choose to share a secret with her in the future, add, "If you tell your mom about my crush, I won't be able to confide in you anymore." Hang in there. You and your friend could be back on track before you know it.

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by GL | 12/3/2017