Friendship between moms ends over race for charity

something he loves to do. She got very upset, said some horrible things to me and ended our friendship. Was I wrong not to agree to do as she asked?

Dear Rough Patch: I don’t think you were wrong. While I sympathize with your former friend, what she suggested was not helpful for her child, who might benefit more from some sessions with a therapist than a helicopter mom trying to cushion life for him.

However, if there’s any truth to your friend’s inference that your son is not a gracious winner, monitor his behavior to make sure he doesn’t come across as a braggart.

Dear Abby: When I was a teenager, I met a guy I’ll call “Jordan” at a college summer program and fell head over heels in love with him. But the program lasted only five weeks, and we lived hours apart. We decided from the beginning that we wouldn’t attempt a long-distance relationship and would simply enjoy our time together.

That fall, my senior year, I visited Boston to look at colleges. I had made plans to see him, but he blew me off. Because I never got closure, I was not able to let him go emotionally.

During my sophomore year of college, Jordan contacted me and asked if we could meet. I refused because I had just met someone else, and didn’t want to jeopardize my new relationship.

It is nearly a decade later, and I have met someone new I could fall in love with. But it seems that I’m still not completely over Jordan. Should I reach out to him and try to get closure?

Dear Left Hanging: Yes. After all these years, it’s time. And when you do, tell him the greatest gift he could give you would be the gift of closure. And when you get it, move forward and don’t look back.