DEAR HARRIETTE: I ran into a former co-worker the other night who had been a good friend for a few years. He was with a woman he introduced as his fiancee. They seemed really happy.
I am happy for him, but also kind of sad that he hadn't called to tell me that he met this woman. I remember talking with him time and again about the women he was dating and about how he couldn't find "the one," so he thought he would just be a perennial dater. He must not think of me as a friend anymore. He did say that he hopes I get to know her, but I think he just said that because we were all together. What do you think? -- Feeling Rejected, Staten Island, N.Y.
DEAR FEELING REJECTED: When people fall in love, they often fall out of touch with their friends, at least for a while. This is only exacerbated by distance. If you two no longer work together, it's natural that you would not be as close.
That said, you ran into each other and rekindled memories of your connection. Why not pick it up from there? Take your friend at his word. If he says he would like for you to get to know his fiancee, believe him and follow up. It may be that you will all come to be friends. Your running into each other may have been fortuitous.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been watching this TV series called "My Kid Would Never Do That," where journalist Natalie Morales tests children of different ages to see what they will do. In almost each case that I have watched, the kids have done the exact worse thing -- like getting into a car with someone who seems intoxicated or giving their phone number and address to an alluring stranger.
I'm so worried and scared for my children. I know they listen to me and my husband, but these other kids listened to their parents, too. It seems that peer pressure has taken over their brains. What can I do to protect my children? -- Uncertain, Chicago
DEAR UNCERTAIN: Peer pressure has been proved to be a game changer for many people, especially children. This series points out that the desire to fit in or seem cool can take over common sense.
I think this creates an opportunity to talk candidly with your children about what's happening in their world. You can even start with this series. Let your children watch it so they see what other young people are doing when pressured. Ask for their reactions, and ask what they think they would do in the same situation.
Talk further about different safety scenarios, and ask your children how they might step away from peer pressure. Make sure they know that you can always be reached in case of emergency to rescue them -- without judgment.