My tween-age daughter has always been painfully shy and struggled to make new friends.
asserted
daughter → struggle → friends
Thankfully, last year, she and two other girls became inseparable.
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she → become → ?
This summer, one went to Italy to see her grandmother (for two months) and the other went to sleepover camp (also for two months).
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other → go → months
My daughter worked at an ice cream shop near our cottage, where she spends her time with her cousins.
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she → work → cousins
Now everyone is back and the other two girls aren’t talking to each other or my daughter.
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girls → talk → other
The trio has imploded but my daughter has no idea why.
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daughter → implode → idea
And now she’s all alone, all the time.
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she → ’ → ?
How can I help her figure out what happened and help her move on and find new friends?
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her → help → friends
Three’s a crowd
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Three → ’ → ?
A I can only assume if those three girls were inseparable as tween-agers you must be in contact with the other moms (carpools, sleepovers, etc.).
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you → assume → moms
Would it be possible to call the one you felt more connected to and ask her if she knows what happened between the girls?
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what → call → girls
I realize kids of that age don’t like their parents to “meddle” but if you’re really in the dark as to what went down I think you have every right to inquire.
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you → realize → right
The worst-possible scenario is that mom ghosts you; you reach out to the other mom, and she also ghosts you.
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she → ghost → you
But if they’re decent people, I just don’t see that happening.
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that → ’re → ?
I don’t suggest you three can fix the problem, but you’d stand a remote chance if you had a clue as to what happened over the course of the summer.
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what → suggest → summer
Best- case scenario, whatever the issue was can be solved with the help of all three moms.
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was → solve → moms
Worst case for your daughter, the friendship trio is done.
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trio → do → daughter
It sounds like it already is, so you have nothing to lose by trying.
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you → sound → nothing
I suggest a coach (like a life coach for adults) who can help your daughter navigate these tough years and teach her how to make friends and keep them.
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daughter → suggest → them
I’m not suggesting at all that whatever happened is her fault; but maintaining friendships is tricky business, especially in today’s world of social media.
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maintaining → suggest → media
My boyfriend is an amazing handyman and is always offering to fix things or make things for me.
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boyfriend → offer → me
He built me a beautiful walk-in closet in my apartment and a dog room under the stairs in my parents’ home.
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He → build → home
We recently purchased our first home, and we did so after walking through numerous times and discussing all the things that needed fixing and how we would do it in stages, all DIY to save money.
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we → purchase → money
We laid out a one-month, a three-month and a six-month plan to get the house up to speed.
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house → lay → speed
And then an itemized two-year plan to get it where we really want it.
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we → get → it
It’s been two months and he’s done none of the things on our one-month list.
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he → do → list
And they’re the most basic.
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they → ’re → ?
Now I’m worried he’ll never get anything done and he storms out when I try to talk to him.
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I → ’m → him
Have I made the biggest mistake of my life?
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I → make → life
Either your partner was all talk or he’s overwhelmed and fears he took on more than he can handle.
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he → ’ → more
Maybe you two need to reassess and create a new plan.
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you → need → plan
And if he’s having second thoughts about everything, get out now before you get in any deeper.
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you → have → everything
We all make mistakes; some are just harder to fix than others.
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some → make → others
Reader: “You’re an extremely dedicated and dutiful husband.
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You → ’re → ?
You recognize that the change in your wife is due to her illness, something no one can control.
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one → recognize → wife
“I would also suggest joining a group of people in your similar situation, understanding you’re not alone and learning how they manage.
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they → suggest → situation
It’s important you get off your butt and do something.
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you → ’ → something
Just going for daily 15-minute walks helps clear your head and clear those negative thoughts.
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going → go → thoughts
She may not recognize you, but facility staff will know you are present.
uncertain
you → recognize → you
If any issues arise, you’re available to discuss.
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you → arise → ?
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
