My friends are always fighting with each other, and I always get in the middle of it somehow. When I try to suggest a solution, they don't listen. What should I do? —Shelby, 14, Los Angeles
Fortunately you don't have to be involved with these fights, so try your hardest not to be. As soon as you get involved and start taking sides — or offer advice so that it looks like you're taking sides — there's a possibility that your friends might turn against you just as fast as they are turning against each other.
Instead of trying to fix everything between them, stay neutral, even when they ask you to get involved. If they respect you, they should appreciate the fact that you're not choosing sides, and your maturity will help them see that their behavior is unacceptable to you.
If that doesn't work, pull your friends aside individually and let them know that hanging out with people who are arguing all the time is no fun. We hope that will inspire them to work out their differences so you can all start having a good time together again. If your friends don't stop fighting, you can also decide not to hang out with them for a little while. Start spending time with other friends or getting more involved in school activities — anything you really enjoy doing. This will help you stay neutral and not get involved because you'll have lots of other things to think about.
I'm really self-conscious around guys because I've never been kissed. I just want it to finally happen, because I'm sick of people saying, "Oh, how cute!" when they find out. Is there something wrong with me? —Name Withheld, 16, Graford, Texas
It might be hard to believe, but it's not totally out of the ordinary that you haven't been kissed at your age. In reality, lots of girls haven't! So now that we've established that you're completely normal, let's talk about how sick you're getting of other people's reactions.
The simple solution is: Don't tell them! If someone asks you how many people you've kissed or brings up the subject, just say, "I don't kiss and tell." It's mysterious, you're not lying, and you don't have to deal with what others think.
As for those people who already know your status and keep nagging you about it, tell them you're saving your first kiss for someone special, but you just haven't met him yet — and you don't want the whole world to know about it. When you do experience your first kiss, it will be much more meaningful than if you went around kissing just anyone. So try not to worry about it. When that special guy comes along, he'll be thrilled that you saved the first kiss for him! And so will you.
I've had a crush on this really sweet guy forever. We both finally confessed that we like each other, but before we could move on to the next step, he told me he has two kids. I really like him, but I'm not sure if I should take it any further. Help! — Rosario, 18, Turlock, Calif.
The good thing about this situation is that you have some time to figure out if dating a man with kids is something you could deal with. There's no commitment issue here; he isn't asking you to marry him. Only time with him — and his kids — will let you know how you feel about it all.
Kids can be both a bonus and a challenge in a relationship. They're fun to be around and add a new dimension to your life. However, they're also a huge responsibility.
First off, your guy will need to devote a big chunk of his time to them, time you might wish you could spend alone with him. Second, if the kids like you and get attached, it would be rough on them if you and their dad eventually split up.
If you do want to pursue a relationship with your crush right now, take it slow — hang out with him one-on-one first before diving into family life. If he wants this to work, he'll let you take as long as you need to figure out whether the relationship is right for both of you.
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