DEAR ABBY: I am a 13-year-old girl in eighth grade. My father is deployed and in the Middle East. My mother does nothing all day but sit in the window and watch cars go by. She is very depressed and she makes me depressed. I have tried everything I can think of to lift her spirits, but nothing helps.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can cheer up my mom? -- WORRIED ABOUT MOM
DEAR WORRIED: You are a wonderful daughter, but it shouldn't be your responsibility to cheer up your mother. It's time for you to confide this problem to another trusted adult who knows her.
This is a very stressful time for loved ones of armed forces personnel who are deployed. There are online support groups for military spouses (www.militarywives.com is one of them).
Your mother should also be encouraged by another adult to discuss her lack of motivation and/or depression with her doctor.