03/03
Dear Amber,
I'm an 11 year-old girl. My Dad is a dentist and left my Mom a year ago for the receptionist at work. He now spends all his time with his girlfriend. I'm supposed to spend every weekend with them, but I feel guilty about my Mom because she's crying all of the time. What should I do?
Signed, Confused
Dear Confused,
Here's what you shouldn't do: feel guilty about your parents' choices. Your Dad didn't have to leave his marriage. That was his decision, not yours. He could have chosen to stick it out and try to make it work. He just didn't. And your Mom can choose to get help. The only thing that you need to do is to try to remember that none of it is your fault. Enjoy your time with your Dad. Enjoy your time with your Mom. Just remember it isn't your job to fix the problems they've created.
Dear Amber,
I'm starting to think that I'm doomed to fall for the wrong guys. Put me in a room full of ministers and I'll find the drummer. The latest time is at work. A really cute guy started working at the camera store that I manage. We've gone out a couple of times, but I'm starting to suspect that he might be stealing from the store. Certain items have just started to disappear. Should I talk to him and try to save the relationship or just walk away?
Signed, Little Drummer's Girl
Dear Little Drummer's Girl,
Sounds like you've confused your love life with your professional obligations. (Trust me, I've done that plenty.) If you're managing the store, you can't just walk away from employee theft. You've got to find out if there's a thief on the payroll and then alert the owners. Then it's their job to decide whether or not to bring in the police. The dating part is harder. Do you really want to go out with a guy that you don't trust? Maybe you need to talk to a counselor to see if she can figure out why you keep finding yourself with bad boys. It sounds like you're looking to break this cycle, but could just use some guidance in taking the first step.
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