Relationships - In General
- Jan 13
- 2010
Editor’s Web Note: “Friends with benefits” is the new term for what used to be called a “relationship of convenience.” Though these “friendly” and “convenient” relationships have occurred throughout history, never have they been more mainstream or more lacking in shame. Nonetheless, today’s girls are no better at separating love from sex than their female predecessors. These relationships continue to involve heartache in the girls and lack of attachment in the boys. Love is, apparently, still what people are looking for. —Lauren
DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: A boy I like asked if I wanted to be “friends with benefits” instead of boyfriend and girlfriend. We’re both 18, seniors in high school, and I use birth control and condoms. What I’m wondering is, is he just too lazy to have a girlfriend, or does he plan on having…
- Dec 30
- 2009
Editor’s Web Note: This is one of my favorite columns of the year and this year the panel had so much to say that the column will continue next week. I’m honored to work with this generation. Once dubbed Generation Y, this generation is so far from being an offshoot of Generation X, that they are now mostly referred to as the Millennial Generation or “Millennials.” —Lauren
DEAR READERS: The young people on this panel range from age 12 to 24. They are part of the Millennial Generation, born from 1982- 2001. The most striking thing about “Milllennials” is that they grew up hard-wired to instant communication technologies. Young people today are strongly…
- Dec 16
- 2009
Editor’s Web Note: This generation can’t get enough of each other. They really like each other. Furthermore, teens and young adults of Generation Y are also known for a tendency to like their parents and to enjoy spending time with them. The combination makes today’s dilemma an increasingly common one. There’s no hard fast rule here. Some kids are going to have sex and some aren’t. Parents need to size up maturity levels of the kids, the philosophy of the supervising parents, the potential for alcohol and drugs, and make their decisions accordingly.
DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: I’m 16 and my boyfriend is 17. We’ve been going out for nine months. His family has invited me to spend the week after Christmas at their cabin. I really want to go but my mom says I’m too young to spend a week away with my boyfriend. That would be true if it were just…
- Nov 11
- 2009
Editor’s Web Note: This column is dedicated to all who have ever had a broken heart. — Lauren
DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: I’ve had a crush on “Kaz” since last year. We’re both freshmen. You could say I’m pretty obsessed over him. He’s really sweet, and doesn’t seem to mind that I like hanging around him. We’ve even talked about intimate stuff such as depressing situations in my life, and his…
- Apr 8
- 2009
DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: There’s this guy from another school that I want to ask to prom. Some of my girlfriends say it’s okay for the girl to ask, others say to always wait for the guy to ask. But how can he ask me when the prom is at my school? The problem is, I don’t know if he likes me and if…
- Sep 24
- 2008
DEAR STRAIGHT TALK: A friend lets her teenage daughter stay overnight at a household where many teenagers regularly stay the night together, co-ed. Sometimes the parent of that household is there, sometimes not. When I bring up concerns, she says, “Those kids are all just friends.” I think…