DEAR HARRIETTE: I grew up in a house full of boys. I have four brothers who were loud and loud. In addition, my father had a great presence in the house.
I have a boyfriend who is the opposite of them. He is sensitive and attentive. As much as I love my family, I would never call them sensitive. My boyfriend cries when we watch certain movies or when sad things happen. I like that about him.
But it leaves you vulnerable when you are close to my family. They constantly nudge and tease him because he is “soft”. When I tell them how much I like him and appreciate his softer side, they laugh at me.
How can I get my family to receive him if he is so different from them? Frankly, they can be bullies.
Stop bullying my man
WANTED STOP BULLYING MY MAN: Your boyfriend will have to find a level of comfort for himself with his family. You cannot do this for him.
He doesn’t have to become a bully or try to be different than he is, but he needs to establish his own space among the boys. My guess is that he will need to be able to ignore them, dodge their provocations and stand his ground.
What you can do is make it clear that your family knows how much you care about him. You must also ignore their mockery. If you don’t add fuel to the fire, it can decrease.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m tired of wearing a mask every time I go outside. I thought COVID-19 would be solved now. It’s been almost a year now, and I did. I want my old life back.
Also, I found out that a woman I know got COVID even after wearing a mask, so what’s the point?
I think I just want to live my life and see what happens. I am young and healthy. I want to see my friends and take off that mask. Since I haven’t gotten sick yet, I think I should be fine. Do you think I’m being stupid? I don’t pretend to be reckless. I just want my normal life back.
No More Mask
DEAR MORE MASK: It is entirely understandable that you are exhausted by the pandemic and the recommendations for staying safe.
We are all tired. Still, more than 400,000 Americans died of COVID-19, including many healthy young people. It is real and it is not going away yet. Your friend who caught the virus while wearing a mask is proof of how dangerous the disease is. That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend several measures: use a face cover, stand 1.8 m away and constantly wash your hands. They also suggest that you do not meet indoors whenever possible.
You must continue to follow these guidelines, even if it is frustrating. We don’t know how long this will last, but it won’t be forever.
The vaccine should help us dramatically, once enough people have been able to get it. Be patient. Visit from a distance with your loved ones.
Follow President Biden’s request to mask your first 100 days. Worth it.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to [email protected] or with Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.