My boyfriend of 18 months is amazing. Everything with our relationship is easy, but our friends make it harder.

He lives two and a half hours away from me, so seeing him on the weekends is our only chance. We hang out with our friends one night and spend the other night together.

My single girlfriends (also of 18 months time) make rude remarks to me, and behind my back, about not spending enough time with them.

My coupled friends completely understand, they're my support system, but there are fewer of them. My single friends spend weekend time at bars, drinking, and trying to find one-night stands. We have less in common than I originally thought.

I did hang out with them by myself, but since they've started criticizing, I find it hard. They don't respect my relationship or try to see it from my view. Even when we do "only girls" activities, they still comment about my relationship.

Do I try to make amends, or do I move on from my single and judgmental friends?

Confused

There's always a transition when a person leaves being one of the "singles" for a full-on committed relationship, but these so-called friends sound particularly difficult, judgmental, and frankly, jealous. They are NOT your support system in any way.

They haven't been longtime pals, and their idea of a good time doesn't jibe with yours any more, likely not even if you didn't have this boyfriend. So there's no huge loss.

However, there's no need to burn bridges, it'll only create a gossip fest. Just pull away. If you try an occasional girls'-only activity with one or more, be prepared if the comments start, to say you came for fun, not to be lectured... and leave.

A year ago, I broke up with my boyfriend of two years because our relationship was no longer healthy. His happiness was entirely dependent on me.

I loved him, but I couldn't deal with the trauma anymore. So I avoided him, and even changed schools, because I knew I'd otherwise be back with him.

I moved on, raised my grades, and got a boyfriend. But I guess I never took the time to get over him.

Because whenever I saw him with a new girlfriend, my stomach flipped. He'd been my best friend. I missed him so much. I know he still wants me, still is very emotional about me.

But he still isn't at a healthy point, so whenever we talk I say I'm over him.

All I want is to not care anymore. He hasn't been a saint this past year; he's been cold, and angry. But I just don't get why I can't let go, keep bawling, still love him.

I know I'm young but I can't move on. What do I do?

Still Broken-Hearted

Though young, you have good sense to recognize an "unhealthy" dependency relationship. But you naturally lack the experience to know that these can sometimes take a deep hold, emotionally. The person is needy, you want to help, support, and take care of him.

It can slide into co-dependency - e.g. you love his grateful smile when you make things go right for him. That can become an unhealthy need for you, too.

So stick with your wise decision, and start to build anger instead of sorrow, that you're still letting this guy dominate your thoughts. You may need some counselling help to get past this. But you must get past it.... lest it become an unhealthy pattern in future relationships.

My relationship with my mother became strained since her divorce several years back. Everything I do upsets her.

I recently started a new job. When I responded "yeah, sure" to her request for $100, she became infuriated because I didn't say, "Of course, no problem."

She goes on rants and tirades daily, and then tries be my "friend" an hour later. I'm becoming emotionally drained, completely out of my character.

I just want to move out and never see her again. I don't know how to get through to her.

Giving Up

She's clearly worried about her finances. You need an arrangement regarding rent for living with her, so look into the market rate, consider what you can afford, and offer it to her.

Her life has changed completely, and she's not adjusted. This isn't your fault, but you need some understanding and compassion if you're to live together... and even if you're apart.