A while back, a student in my ethics course, knowing I was beginning a Questions My Students Ask Me project, sent an e-mail and asked if I supported gun control. I wrote back and asked him if he had an opinion on the issue, given his particular childhood environment (D. had previously shared with me that he grew up in an inner city housing project complex, and spoke to me about the gun violence he encountered regularly). He responded: Criminals will get guns no matter what-they break the law because they don’t care. My childhood experiences made me supportive of weapons because I was part of that lifestyle and Continue reading
Single Dad Afraid to Date Women with Children
Dear Liz,
How do I deal with not wanting to date someone with children, for fear that my now semi-adult children will react poorly if they see me interacting better with her children than I did with them? Continue reading
Struggling to Heal After an Abusive Relationship
Dear Liz,
I was wondering about the steps I need to take in order to get over a breakup, especially one that involved abuse. I am still working with my ex-boyfriend because I love my job, and I feel like if I leave, that will show weakness. Work is tense and awkward, and I am wondering if it is an unhealthy situation for me.
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Young Woman Questions Sexual Orientation/Worries About Family’s Reaction
Dear Liz,
My whole life up until now I have dated males. This past summer, my best friend of seven years and I started getting closer. We are now dating and have been for seven months, though it’s been kept a secret. I am not attracted to girls, yet I see the girl I am dating as the most beautiful soul I have ever met. It almost doesn’t matter that she’s a girl because I see her as perfection. Does this make me homosexual? Do you think that even though I never saw this for my life, I can be with her for the rest of my life, despite all the changes and controversy it will bring? The other question I have is how to deal with telling my parents—I was raised Catholic and my parents are very religious. This is my best friend from home and we have sleepovers and she is basically part of my family, and I don’t want to show my parents disrespect under their roof. If it were a boyfriend, he wouldn’t be allowed in my bedroom, but they don’t know about my situation. Is honesty the best policy, even though I know it will destroy them?
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Mom to be fears she uses the f word way too much—doesn’t want to be a trash talkin’ mama!
Dear Liz,
Your column is just in time for all my motherhood questions! For starters, how do I get myself to stop saying the f word so much? I really find myself abusing it, especially when frustrated with my ever loving fiance, due to my newly shortened pregnancy fuse! And I just don’t want to be a trash talkin’ mama! Continue reading
Dear Liz 