About a Boy

Dear Alisa and Gina,

My high-school-aged son has recently started to hang out with a new friend. I don’t have any tangible reasons, but I just get a bad vibe from the boy. Should I tell my son I am worried or leave it alone? ~ Nervous Mom

This situation brings up a really important life skill that you can discuss with your son. If you live in a big city you may be able to launch your conversation about a discussion about street smarts – and perhaps bring in some examples of what you know about his skill in that area.  Perhaps you’ll also be able to weave in some examples from your own experience. Then you can move on to why the new friend has triggered something for you. If you can include the life lesson and the specific topic in the same conversation, without accusations or judgments, you may open the door to future exchanges. ~Alisa

Kill him with kindness. Invite the friend over often, feed him chocolate and pancakes, ask him about his life. He’s probably a nice kid, and getting to know him will calm your fears. And how this boy acts with you will help your son decide whether this friend is trustworthy or not. ~ Gina