Daughter is stuck playing referee in parents’ divorce

Dear Abby: I’m 16 and my parents are getting a divorce. It is really hard. They put me in the middle a lot in their arguments, like I’m a counselor. I have told them repeatedly I don’t like it, and they promise it won’t happen again, but it does.

They both tell me their sides of the story, but they never bother to listen to my feelings and what I want to say. It’s like I have to be the adult/parent, while all I want is for them to hear me without getting upset. How do I bring this up? — Girl In The Middle Dear Girl: Your parents have placed you in a no-win position. What they are doing to you is extremely unfair. If you have a trusted aunt, uncle or grandparents you can confide in, enlist their help in delivering the message to your parents that their behavior is destructive. While your parents may be able to tune you out when you ask not to be involved, they may be less likely to ignore the message if they hear it from another adult. If you don’t have a relative you can confide in, then enlist the help of a counselor at school.

Dear Abby: I have a question about resumes. Over the last six years — from the ages of 18 to 24 — I have worked three jobs. One was full-time, two were part-time and each lasted two years. (They were baking at a local bakery, serving at a restaurant and being a file clerk.)

Now that I have my nursing degree, should I mention my previous employment on my resume when applying for a nursing position? I don’t want it to look like I can’t make up my mind when it comes to employment, but I also don’t want it to appear like I have never worked a day in my life. Thoughts? — Wants To Be A Nurse

Dear Wants To Be A Nurse: If you list your dates of prior employment — as well as the date you received your nursing degree — it should be apparent that you were working toward your nursing degree all along. Before you are hired, you will be personally interviewed, which will give you the opportunity to not only explain what you have to offer, but also point out that your resume reflects that you’re a hard worker. That’s important information, and you should use all of your “ammunition” to land the job you’re looking for.

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