Ask Auntie Linda, Straight Advice from a Straight Shooter

Dear Auntie Linda, my fourteen sister told me she is in love with her soccer coach.  She has shown me texts and pictures from him.  She has sworn me to secrecy and asked me not to tell our mother.  I don’t want to tell her secret but I am afraid for her.  What do I do?  Sister

Dear Sister, this is not a secret that should be honored.  Your sister is a minor and this coach is committing a crime.  Tell your sister she has to tell your mother or you will.  Offer to go with her and be there for her.  Auntie Linda

Dear Auntie Linda, We moved way out in the country a couple of years ago   My family keeps cows and chickens.  All us kids have to help with chores and work in the garden.  I have to help my mom can food and make cheese and butter.  In summer my sister and I have to work in a stand selling vegetables out near the road.  My parents are building our house because they don’t want to go in debt.  We moved in before it was finished.  The bedrooms not painted yet and we don’t have hot water in the house.  We use a fireplace in winter and don’t have an air conditioner.   I am embarrassed about living like such a hick.  Most kids I go to school with have cars and live in nice houses.  I ride a bicycle.  Other kids de get to run around and have and I have to help my family.  I hate living this way.  I wish we could move back to town.  Country Bumpkin

Dear Country, Sounds like your parents are working hard to make a living and be self-sufficient.  I know it seems awful to you, but you are learning important skills.  It’s good to have fun and have great things, but it’s also good to pay your way.  Teenagers are usually unhappy about something anyway and this way you can focus on your parents instead of yourself.  If your parents are good parents and responsible, they are doing a good job.  I admire self-suffiency.  Auntie Linda