Los Angeles Times

Girl needs a family’s love

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My great-niece is 11. She’s lived with her grandparen­ts (my younger brother’s family) since she was young.

She doesn’t have much contact with her own mother or father (who split up years ago).

She recently found out her mother is pregnant by a new boyfriend and is going to have a baby girl.

I asked my brother how my great-niece is handling this and he said, “Not very good.”

My concern is that she stays in her bedroom all the time and seems withdrawn, depressed and unhappy. She used to be happy and smiling. Any help on how to handle this situation?

Worried Uncle

Dear Worried: Surround this girl with love, affection and attention. You can probably imagine how conflicted and hurt she is feeling — her mother, who abandoned her, is now starting another family. This will revive every abandonmen­t sadness she has ever had and will likely introduce more feelings that she can’t articulate and doesn’t know how to handle.

Her guardians should not let her isolate herself.

Everyone in the family should attempt to talk to her about this. Don’t assume she is happy about this news, and don’t force her toward a happy narrative (“Hey — you’re going to have a little sister!”). Instead, ask her, “Can you describe how you are feeling?” If she is inarticula­te or silent, don’t correct her. Reassure her and enfold her in her family’s embrace.

If there are safe ways for her to see her mother, she should be offered this opportunit­y.

Books will help her to process and tackle some of her sadness and worry. Give her good, age-appropriat­e books to dive into (I highly recommend the site amightygir­l.com for book suggestion­s). Read together.

If it’s possible, she should also see a counselor with experience in working with children. An independen­t, caring and supportive adult could coach her in ways to process and respond to her big feelings.

Dear Amy: My parents have been divorced for several years. They refuse to reconcile, and they refuse to let me live with either one of them.

Most recently, they also decided against continuing to financiall­y support me.

I have been in and out of law school — most recently out — because I flunked out. What should I do with my life?

Should my mother or father agree to take me back in and/or financiall­y support me so I can live comfortabl­y until I’m back in school or have a high-paying job? Please advise.

Prospectiv­e Law Student & Aspiring Actor

Dear Prospectiv­e: No, your parents should not provide you with a comfortabl­e living while you get your act together. You’re on your own now. And this is what it feels like to be on our own.

Law school might not be for you. For one thing, your own judgment and criticalth­inking skills seem so faulty that you just don’t seem cut out for a career in the law.

Acting, however, will allow you to inhabit fantasy and express your creativity. Acting is deep and hard work, however.

It’s time for you to experience the terror and joy of making your own way in the world.

Send questions to Amy Dickinson by email to askamy@amydickins­on.com.

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