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Held Hostage by Depression
Dear Annie: My roommate, "Michelle," is suffering from depression. Six months ago, she suddenly lost interest in going out with friends and would cry for no reason. She began calling in sick so many times that she was fired. She cashed out …Read more.
Hands Are Tied when a Messed-Up Child Is a Legal Adult
Dear Annie: My 20-year-old nephew has been a troubled youth, despite all the attempts of his family to help him, including counseling and rehab. When he was 18, he became involved with a messed-up 14-year-old girl who used drugs, alcohol and sex to …Read more.
Damaging Favoritism Amid Broken Boundaries
Dear Annie: I have two daughters, ages 5 and 2. My in-laws favor the older girl. They buy her more presents, give her more money and pay way more attention to her than to her sister. They almost seem obsessed with her. As soon as she walks in the …Read more.
Ex Con on the Straight and Narrow Canned
Dear Annie: After eight years at my job, I was let go. I have a felony record. The CEO who knew of my background retired last year. He felt I had proved myself and had no problem with me. When he retired, we got an interim CEO. I told him about my …Read more.
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ANNIE'S MAILBOX(R)Dear Annie: My 15-year-old niece recently told me she craves the taste of blood and feels like a freak. She said her mom absolutely lost it when she told her. I know this must be a symptom of a medical problem and told her so. I also said she needs to talk to a doctor or therapist about it, as they are in a better position to help her. But she's too scared to talk about it with anyone. She asked me to find more information about any medical condition that might be causing her cravings. But when I looked it up, I found very little useful information and a lot of oddball theory and rumor. I told her the cravings are the body's way of telling us it is lacking something. I also reminded her that giving in to this particular craving could make her sick, and that it may not be safe. I'm not sure what else to tell her. Do you have any suggestions for how she might approach a medical professional so she feels more comfortable? — Concerned Aunt Dear Aunt: Your niece is lucky to have a levelheaded person like you to talk to. Unusual food cravings are often due to a mineral or vitamin deficiency. One possibility is pica, which manifests itself as a craving for inedible items, most commonly dirt or wood. Blood cravings have been linked to iron deficiency. Encourage your niece to discuss this with her pediatrician or family doctor. If she is reluctant, offer to go with her so she is less nervous. She needs to be reassured that it's not because she's watching too many vampire movies. Dear Annie: Let me begin by admitting my obsessive germophobia. It naturally escalated after I had my two children. I know I take it to an extreme level, being extra cautious to wash hands to reduce the spread of disease. Still, I can't help wondering what is wrong with people. Just this week, I was in a children's clothing store and was rendered speechless when the father of a snot-nosed toddler boy said it was OK for the kid to kiss my 2-year-old daughter.
I can't seem to get away from these young children who want to touch my 10-month-old on the head, face and hands. Often, the parent isn't around or isn't paying attention. I try to avoid confrontation, and so far I have done nothing other than pull my child away. What is the appropriate way to handle such encounters? — Germophobe Mom in York, Penn. Dear Mom: It's OK to nicely tell strangers (children and adults) that you'd prefer they not touch your child, and to relocate yourselves if hands reach out in your direction. But we hope you will keep your more germ-phobic behavior in check so your children don't have the same aversions. A certain amount of exposure can build immunity to everyday germs and actually be a healthy thing. Dear Annie: I had to run to the computer and respond to "In Shock in Kentucky." She said she just moved to Kentucky and heard the term "double buckle." I live in Kentucky and am sick to death of people making unfair comments about my state. I have lived in Kentucky all of my life and would never dream of putting two children in one seatbelt. Please tell her not to assume all people from Kentucky are doing this just because she first heard this term there. Stereotyping people by the state they live in is horrible. She should stop blaming my state and look at the people she is hanging around with. — Proud of My State Dear Proud: We don't believe she was singling out Kentucky. We've heard the term, and we live in Chicago. But we're sure Kentuckians are with you on this. Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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