Archive for March, 2011
Q & A with Debba Haupert: Girlfriend-in-Chief of Girlfriendology
Can you tell my blog readers a little bit about Girlfriendology, including its phenomenal growth? In 2006, two of my girlfriends were dealing with cancer. I had an overwhelming NEED to be with my girlfriends – not just the ones with cancer, but my female friends in general. Girlfriendology was born as a blog that […]
Apologies can pave the way for second chances
QUESTION Hi Irene, My best friend Lila started hanging out with this other girl Jenny. At first the three of us were friends. Then Jenny offered to take Lila on a cruise. The next month, the two of them were always together, talking about me and spreading rumors behind my back. After they returned, Lila […]
To tell or not to tell: What are the ethics of being a good friend?
QUESTION Hi Irene, I’ve been burdened with the knowledge that the husband of one of my closest friends was unfaithful to her. They have two very young children (one 3 years old and the other 6 months). I am certain that she is not aware of the incident. And I have known about it for […]
Phone Friends: Headed toward Extinction?
Be honest. Do you cringe when the phone rings? Check Caller ID and get annoyed when someone, even your BFF, calls when you’re in the middle of something? Prefer talking when YOU want to rather than when SHE wants to? Do you send a quick text or email with the hopes of avoiding a lengthy […]
Friendship Calculus: The Problem of Three
When three people are good friends, it’s not unusual for two of them to become closer to each other over time. In your situation, what made the change especially painful is that you introduced these two women to each other and now they are excluding you.
Love my friend, not her problem child
QUESTION Hi, Irene. My husband and I are good friends with a couple and enjoy their company. However, they have a 5-year-old child who is completely unmanageable. He is mean to my daughter, violent toward other kids, loud, and demanding. The children of the other parents in our group of friends hate to be around […]
Grief complicated by the loss of a best friend
QUESTION Dear Irene, My best friend and I had a major falling out 4½ years ago shortly after the death of my two-year-old son. At the time I was so deep in grief and my judgment so impaired that I did not apologize for behavior on my part that led to our breakup. It […]
Toxic friendships: It takes two
It takes two people to define a friendship. So if your friend has no boundaries, it’s also true that you haven’t set any limits.
