I've been obsessed with a work colleague who also seemed interested in me. I believed he was unattached.

Recently, we spent our first real time together. He'd smiled and winked at me, as usual. So I invited him to go for lunch - that's when he confessed that he's married and the father of two kids. His close friend confirmed this.

I was shocked! For a whole year, he'd flirted and behaved as a single guy would. I feel betrayed.

Now I've seen him flirting with someone else and I hear they've started a full-on fling. Did he just not want me and lied, or was I taken for a fool?

Hurt

You're the lucky one, and when you get past this jerk's shabby behaviour, you'll be grateful you're not involved with him.

Whatever game he's playing, he let you out of it. Perhaps during your conversation, he recognized someone genuine and honest, unlike himself. So he let you know he's trouble, by saying he's married.

The "new" woman either doesn't care if a guy's cheating on his wife, or he respects her less and hasn't warned her about his own careless style.

Instead of seeing this as a rejection, consider it a release from your crush. It was based on a false impression he purposefully created. He's not a nice person. Move on.

My best friend's been with her boyfriend for six months. She's 16, he's 23. Their whole relationship seemed shady to me, since she's a junior in high school and he's already graduated college. But she was happy so I was happy for her.

My problem is that she constantly sneaks out at night. She lies to her mom, saying she's sleeping over at my house. Then she drives to another city to be with him the whole night.

She's blown off many plans we've had together to be with him and his friends. It's her life and her decisions, but she's affecting my life by saying she's with me. I don't want to get blamed or involved when she's caught.

I'm also worried that she might get into a situation in which she and her family suffer. I've talked to her about this but she'll cry and mention all the stuff she's done for me, that I owe her back. She's promised me repeatedly that she won't do it again, but she still sneaks out.

Should I tell her mom, or mind my own business?

Caught in the Middle

Get out of this dangerous deception. Alert your friend, as someone who cares more about her well being than this boyfriend, that you must tell her parents of the risks she's taking with her life and her future. UNLESS she assures you she's not sneaking around any more, nor staying out all night.

At the very least, she cannot use you again as her excuse. It'll be seen by her parents (and yours) that as dishonest of you to permit it and not make every effort to convince her to stop.

She's very young and clearly besotted by all the attention from an "older" guy. She needs a reality check, starting with your mature insistence she not rely on YOU to have it continue. She may cry, yell, and stop talking to you. But eventually she'll understand what you did for her.

Warn her firmly that you'll expose the truth. If nothing changes, tell your own parents, and ask them to go with you to alert hers.

I want my parents to move across the country to a particular town, but they don't want to. All of our friends and family are there. How can I tell them without them getting mad?

Upset

Your parents have made many decisions, including where to live and be able to support their children and themselves, in a manner that meets the most needs.

They're undoubtedly aware that some other family members and friends (at least, yours) have moved to this other place. They choose not to.

Talk to them. Instead of arguing or making judgements, ask them respectfully why they don't want to move there. Listen with an open mind.

Be aware that moving creates upheaval... it's often emotionally and financially very costly, and can take its physical toll on adults, as well. Listen to their answers, and if the move isn't possible, suggest that some day they/you visit friends and family during vacation.