Ask Amy: Tragic accident creates trauma response
If our daughters answer “no,” to this question, it seems to only prolong the misery with more questions and statements, like "Why not?" or "I don't believe you!"
My daughters haven't found a way to handle the awkward position when so many people seem to regard it as perfectly normal casual conversation, and they want to be respectful to adults.
Or maybe we are being overly sensitive, and it IS perfectly reasonable to ask a teenager about their romantic life?
– Mom
Dear Mom: Gak, I remember this question from my own teenhood! And, as the never-dating high school kid, the question was both intrusive and (bonus!) a surefire way to feel less-than.
Assure your girls that adults tend to ask this because they want to connect, but don’t know how. They’re likely not even particularly interested in the answer.
This annoyance will soon be followed by the also-challenging “where are you going to college” question.
Suggest that your teens find a way to laugh this off, and then distract with a question of their own: “Haha – only my Instagram followers really know what I’m up to. Did you date in high school?”
Dear Amy: Your question from “Worried,” who had started excessively hoarding food in response to the pandemic, inspired me to write.
When Worried gets their hoarding under control I urge them and others to consider donating to a food bank.
Donations have been down at many of our food banks, and they could use the help.
– Overstocked, Too
Dear Overstocked: Great advice. Thank you!
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2022 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
