Dear Wendi: I am 13 and think my parents are too hard on me. I have to baby-sit my six brothers and sisters every day, sometimes weekends, too. It’s not fair. My mom and stepdad say they’re just being hard on me because I’m older, but I think I should at least be able to spend time with my friends and do things other girls my age do.
Lisa
Dear Lisa: From what I’m seeing, I think you’re getting kind of a raw deal, too. Sure, it’s good for you to learn responsibility and help your parents out sometimes. But you’re a kid, not a live-in baby-sitter. If you’re getting stuck watching the other kids all the time just because you’re the oldest, that’s not fair – you have a right to be a kid as much as they do. It sounds like you’ve talked to your parents already and didn’t get very far. What if you talked to them again, but this time suggested a specific compromise? Like, you’ll watch your brothers and sisters for so many hours during the week if your parents will let you have Friday nights and Saturday afternoons off to be with your pals. Whatever arrangements you make are up to the three of you – but it’s really important that you all stick with ’em or make changes far in advance (meaning they shouldn’t come up to you Friday afternoon and say you have to give up your Friday night, just this once . . .). I’m sure you want to help your family out. But your time is as valuable as your parents’, and sometimes you need to hang out, goof off and just be a kid.
Dear Wendi: I’m having trouble with a girl. Sometimes I feel like cracking all her teeth out. She makes fun of me because I am a girl playing with Ninja Turtles. Tell me what to do besides busting her teeth.
Trouble with a dumb girl
Dear T.: You’ve got one thing straight – busting this girl’s teeth wouldn’t do much good. You’d get in trouble – and she’d still think it’s dopey that you play with Ninja Turtles. Hey, what you like to do for fun is your business – and if someone else doesn’t like it, that’s their problem. I mean, it’s not like you’re doing something dangerous or mean or illegal. And who made the rule that girls shouldn’t play with Ninja Turtles? No one, that’s who! (If anyone did make a rule that dumb, we’d have to break it, anyway.)
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Write to Wendi in Room 567, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. You can send questions by computer (screen name KidNews) if you subscribe to Chicago Online. For information call 1-800-922-0808.
