My ex-girlfriend of seven years broke up with me three years ago, as we were constantly arguing.
I promised her that we’d always be friends and she could come to me if she needed anything.
I later met another girl and my life has completely changed, I couldn’t be happier.
I realize that even though I loved my ex, we weren’t compatible. She contacts me and complains that I don't call/talk to her enough.
My girlfriend isn’t comfortable with me being close friends with her and I respect that.
I've explained this to my ex and she got upset. She doesn’t have a strong support network of family and friends.
I feel guilty about moving on (I expect to marry my girlfriend).
How do I help my ex understand what’s happened?

- Uncomfortable

Though you’re a great guy for trying to stay connected, your ex needs to move on herself, and not continue to lean on you.
Explain, gently but firmly, that you wish her to find her own happiness; to do so, she must create her own new network of friends and potential dates.
Drop the guilt. Speak to her with the confidence that you’re doing the right thing. Tell her that though you care about her, it’s no longer good for either of you to have frequent contact.

My sister’s friend is supposedly home schooling her two children, age six and seven.
These well-educated parents don’t believe in structured learning and feel that if children want to learn something, they’ll ask.
These children cannot read and write.
The parents believe that going to school may result in negative experiences.
These children are apparently well cared for; they’re clean and well fed.
The parents take them to classes, such as swimming, where they meet other children.
I believe this is a form of child abuse as a young child’s brain is like a sponge but the longer they live without an education the harder it’ll be for them to learn later.
How can a child be expected to know to ask to learn to read and do arithmetic or geography?
I also think it must be against the law to prevent a child from receiving an education. Am I wrong or should someone be calling the education authorities and reporting these parents?

- Outraged

First, some basic information, before I comment about your judgment: The laws on home schooling vary from one jurisdiction to another. For example, though the definition of what’s acceptable is somewhat vague, there are places (e.g. the province of Ontario) where a child is legally excused from school attendance if the child is receiving satisfactory instruction at home or elsewhere.
Most jurisdictions would also have provisions for an official to check on the home schooling program and to hold a hearing on it, if it was considered inadequate for the child’s benefit.
Unless a child is legally excused from attendance, there are also provisions for parents to be convicted of an offence and fined.
As for your sister’s friend: Given that the parents are well-educated themselves, and care well for their children, it’s likely they’ve followed proper procedures and contacted their local school board. They’d not only want to avoid the school’s interference but also to that from outsiders such as yourself.
NOTE: It IS a moral (and legal) duty of everyone who suspects child abuse to report it. However, this situation sounds more like one involving your personal disapproval.

We’ve been dating for eight years, and for three years I’ve wanted to know where the relationship was going.
We took a month’s break; I feel like we've lost our spark.
He wants to stay together until we decide we really aren't working (or try and put more effort into the relationship). But I feel we're holding ourselves back when we're no longer "in love.”
However, I wouldn’t like to lose his friendship.

- Confused

Since you want to break off completely, offering “friendship” will be too hurtful, and possibly misleading for him. You have to be clear that it’s time enough for both of you to recognize the relationship isn’t working.
You both need the opportunity to date others and re-consider what you want in a full-time partner.
In the future, you may find you missed each other enough to try again, or wish to renew your friendship, or neither.