Question

chapter 3 achieving mental and emotional health
lesson 3 expressing emotions in healthful ways
directions: assume that you are gabby, the advice columnist for a high school newspaper. lately, you have received several letters from students who are bothered by guilty feelings. in the spaces provided, write answers that will help the students deal with their guilt.

1. dear gabby, my mom and dad are getting divorced, and i think its mostly my fault. if i behaved better, they wouldnt get so stressed out and have so much to fight about. as it is, they seem to be fighting all the time. i feel awful! what can i do? — guilty gus

dear guilty gus,

1. dear gabby, a friend keeps offering me a ride in her car, but my parents wont let me ride with inexperienced drivers. last night, my mom had to make a special trip to bring me home. now i feel guilty for being so much trouble. should i just ride with my friend next time? — undecided rider

dear undecided rider,

1. dear gabby, i accidentally broke a neighbors window while i was playing ball. nobody knows i did it, but i feel really guilty about it. i want to confess to my neighbor, but i feel that too much time has gone by. what should i do? — anonymous neighbor

dear anonymous neighbor,

Explanation:

1. For Guilty Gus, parents' divorce is usually due to their own relationship issues, not a child's behavior. Suggest he communicate his feelings to his parents and focus on taking care of his own well - being.
2. For Undecided Rider, safety comes first. His parents have valid concerns about riding with an inexperienced driver. He should explain the situation to his friend and find alternative solutions like carpooling with other adults or public transportation.
3. For Anonymous Neighbor, it's never too late to confess. Honesty is the best policy. He should apologize to the neighbor and offer to help with the repair costs.

Answer:

Dear Guilty Gus,
Your parents' divorce is not your fault. Marital problems are between adults. Try talking to them about how you feel and focus on your own self - care.

Dear Undecided Rider,
Your parents are just worried about your safety. Don't ride with your friend. Explain the situation to your friend and look for other ways to get around, like carpooling with adults or using public transport.

Dear Anonymous Neighbor,
It's never too late to be honest. Go and confess to your neighbor, apologize, and offer to help pay for the window repair.