Dear Coleen

HAVE I OUTGROWN MY FRIENDS?

I HAD to respond to the lady who has let her daughter’s good-for-nothing boyfriend move into their house (Monday, July 23).

What’s her husband’s role in all this? It’s their house and therefore their rules, so either the boyfriend shapes up or he ships out. If he doesn’t pack his bags, put them on the street.

He sounds like a deadbeat and a sponger, and I wouldn’t tolerate it for a second.

Yes, it may result in a row with their daughter but, deep down, she knows what he’s like and will come round eventually.

I hope they get it sorted out sooner rather then later.

Garry Larkin I’M A 17-year-old girl and have been friends with the same group since we all started secondary school together.

Most of us now go to the local college, which I thought would be great, but I’m feeling left out.

I’m already worrying about starting back and I’m seriously thinking of looking round for alternative options.

I study a different course to them, which means they all see each other in class a lot and are very close.

They often organise social things and don’t invite me or “forget” to ask me.

They also seem to have a problem with my boyfriend, who I’ve been seeing for a year. They sneer about him and when I’m with him, they can be pretty rude to his face. I’ve known these girls since I was 11 but I’m seriously questioning why I still want to know them. Any ideas? 11. Look, leaving you out of things and making you feel bad about yourself and your relationship is not friendship.

It sounds to me as though you’re doing just fine without them.

It’s normal and natural in life to grow apart from friends and make new ones as life takes us down different routes. You may move on to other studies or start work and you’d naturally see less of your old friends.

Please don’t disrupt your studies by switching colleges just because of this bunch of girls, who are probably a bit jealous that you are so selfassured and also have a nice boyfriend.

That kind of meanness is usually a cover up for people’s own insecurities. Good luck.