Not only young people write to me through my column. To kick off the New Year, I selected a parent and a grandparent email to share. Q. I appreciate the way you support teachers in your column and your social media posts. I taught for 45 years, mostly middle school. My teacher colleagues ...
Q. I think I’m the only kid in the world who is in a hurry to get back to school. I’m so bored during this break. It’s too long. I just live with my mom and she works two jobs. I don’t connect with my school friends when I’m not in school because I don’t have a phone. Is it weird ...
As we look forward to 2025, I am honored to share some teens’ New Year’s resolutions. I began this tradition in 2005, the first year I wrote the column Ask Mary Jo, and I am pleased to offer young people’s voices again. Astrid, 17: I want to be true and honest with myself. I want to work ...
Q. I’ve been home from college three days, and I already know this isn’t going to be what I expected. I love my university and I’m so busy there that this is my first visit home. I stayed at school over Thanksgiving. I love my family, but this is so weird. I feel like I don’t have a ...
Q. I overheard my mom and my uncle talking. I wasn’t supposed to be there. They said this may be the last Christmas we’ll have with my grandma. She must be really sick. Since I heard them, I can’t think of anything else. My grandma is the best person I know. No one else makes me feel so ...
Q. Please help me talk my mom into letting me get a job. My grades are good. I have as many friends as I want. She says I need to play sports. I don’t want to play sports at all. I played when I was little because she made me, but sports aren’t for me. She also says I don’t need money. ...
