Author Archive: Irene
Author Irene S. Levine, PhD, is The Friendship Doctor, dispensing expert advice on The Friendship Blog.
Ending a friendship nicely
I am writing for help with ending a friendship nicely. I met a friend at a playground three years ago and the friendship started because she was moving to the area and we both had sons the same age.
Ditched by a gay friend when I started dating
It’s not uncommon for a gay friend or straight friend to feel threatened when a close friend falls in love with someone else but extreme possessiveness can be a friendship killer.
Ex-pat friendships
A common language, customs and culture can help bridge distance but don’t always make for solid ex-pat friendships.
The relationship between children’s friendships and those of their parents
One of my closest friends for years has been claiming that her son, “D” and my son, C are “best friends.” I know that my son “C” has always had “D” close to his heart and considers him his bestie. But “D” treats my son very badly at school in front of peers.
Letting go of a best friend isn’t easy
A month ago, my friend sent me an email out of nowhere saying that she no longer wanted to be friends anymore, that this was goodbye.
Ultimatums can undermine a friendship
Often it’s hard to stay friends with someone who seems to have different morals or standards than you do. I hope you expressed your misgivings to your friend, and told her how you felt, before you gave her an ultimatum to choose between you and them.
Should I go to my friend’s party if I don’t like some of the guests?
My friend has invited me to her New Year’s party, along with the other two friends I don’t get along with. I’m debating if I should go, ignore them and have a good time, or not go and save myself the stress and drama.
When to let go of a friend
I never did have a large circle of friends so losing friends like this is a huge deal to me. Actually, I tend to hang on to friends that aren’t good for me for longer than I should because it isn’t always easy for me to make new ones.
Thanksgiving Day 2012
On the cusp of Thanksgiving Day, many New Yorkers are just beginning to recover from the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, which reached its worst intensity on the east coast one month ago, on October 25. For many, the hurricane hit close to home with its widespread destruction of life and property, affecting families, friends and [...]
