Sometimes, when someone is miserable, it’s best to just sit alongside them and not say much at all. And sometimes a teen needs to talk to someone who is their own gender. A person who will sit and listen, a person who can empathize, I believe, is what Mike needs. It’s not that Ellie is not concerned, but Mike needs Dad right now. Not a dad who hangs over him, though, but a dad who will just sit with him and let him be quiet or eventually talk.
Of course, kids don’t want to talk to parents about someone they romantically like – they want friends, their own peer. Perhaps grandparents. Kids tend to share with grandparents because they tend to be less judgmental and listen better. They learned mistakes the first time around with their kids and are better at listening and talking with grandchildren.
I once received a very nasty, angry letter from a woman who was objecting to a strip I had done. I looked up the strip and was surprised by her reaction. It was a very benign gag…nothing worthy of such a tirade. I wondered if she’d had a bad day and decided to take out her frustration on me! I replied to her letter, asked about this, and I also asked if she was feeling better now. Her reply in return was great fun. She had indeed had a very bad day and decided to vent her anger by writing to my syndicate. After she’d mailed the letter, she wished she had not! She asked the postman for the letter back and was told that, by law, it had to go into the system. She worried about the letter but thought it would just go to an editor and not to me personally. When she got my letter, she was horrified. She apologized profusely, thanked me for my letter, and we both had a good laugh over the whole thing. Exchanges like this connected me with readers in a very sensitive way. It made my relationship with them real, and obviously, lasting!
howtheduck about 5 years ago
Michael thinks one thing, but his actions tell us that he prefers wallowing in self-pity.
Templo S.U.D. about 5 years ago
there’s always dear, old Dad or uncle Phil
Black76Manta about 5 years ago
Mike, you’ve got a big blindfold on your eyes, the person you can talk to, just walked past you!
Watcher about 5 years ago
Mike, feelings, thoughts and reality haven’t connected yet but they will.
ariel777000 about 5 years ago
Sometimes, when someone is miserable, it’s best to just sit alongside them and not say much at all. And sometimes a teen needs to talk to someone who is their own gender. A person who will sit and listen, a person who can empathize, I believe, is what Mike needs. It’s not that Ellie is not concerned, but Mike needs Dad right now. Not a dad who hangs over him, though, but a dad who will just sit with him and let him be quiet or eventually talk.
capricorn9th about 5 years ago
Of course, kids don’t want to talk to parents about someone they romantically like – they want friends, their own peer. Perhaps grandparents. Kids tend to share with grandparents because they tend to be less judgmental and listen better. They learned mistakes the first time around with their kids and are better at listening and talking with grandchildren.
asrialfeeple about 5 years ago
Micheal wants somebody who won’t be using it against him.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Yup, never tell Mom or Dad exactly how you feel. They may try to do something all ‘adult’ about it and then things would really get complicated.
33Angel about 5 years ago
Ahhhhh… The torture of the teenage boy.
Gerard:D about 5 years ago
Lynn’s Comments:
I once received a very nasty, angry letter from a woman who was objecting to a strip I had done. I looked up the strip and was surprised by her reaction. It was a very benign gag…nothing worthy of such a tirade. I wondered if she’d had a bad day and decided to take out her frustration on me! I replied to her letter, asked about this, and I also asked if she was feeling better now. Her reply in return was great fun. She had indeed had a very bad day and decided to vent her anger by writing to my syndicate. After she’d mailed the letter, she wished she had not! She asked the postman for the letter back and was told that, by law, it had to go into the system. She worried about the letter but thought it would just go to an editor and not to me personally. When she got my letter, she was horrified. She apologized profusely, thanked me for my letter, and we both had a good laugh over the whole thing. Exchanges like this connected me with readers in a very sensitive way. It made my relationship with them real, and obviously, lasting!
Jogger2 about 5 years ago
Mike: “I put my feelings about Martha in a letter, and mailed it to her.”Elly: “You wrote a love letter? That’s great! My baby is growing up!”
JackGFuller Premium Member about 5 years ago
Mom’s rader is working 24*7
Fido (aka Felix Rex) about 5 years ago
Not to worry, Mike. Teenager angst only lasts a lifetime.