Serena

I met this guy at school, and he's always complimenting me and flirting. Not in an annoying way, he's actually quite charming. He's really cool and I'd want to be friends, but nothing more. When he compliments me, I say thank you and smile, but I think it seems like I like him back but I'm just being polite. And he wants to hang out and it feels like it would be a date. What should I do or say to make it clear I just want to be friends without being rude? He's funny and subtle about the flirting so I feel like it'd be over the top to be say "I'm not interested." right in his face.

My parents don't live together, but they're not divorced. They're "figuring things out", but it's been like this for a couple years now. My dad left because he wasn't happy where we lived, so he moved to another city where he has more family and friends. He said that he wanted to start a business over there too. The business hasn't had much success and he has a huge debt.

My parents don't get along either. I think it's because of my dad's insecurity, which he makes quite obvious. For example, if I'm talking to him on the phone and I say "Bye, I love you." He just goes "Right, sure you do." Anything I say he just goes "sure, whatever". He doesn't believe that we love and care for him. But I'm not really close to my dad so it's just kinda awkward whenever we try and do stuff together. I don't really know what to talk about and he doesn't say much. I think he's depressed and I really want to help him but I don't know how.

On top of that, my mom said she's tired of raising me and my sister on her own so she just wants a divorce. My dad doesn't want that but there isn't much he can do if it's what my mom wants. I want to help him but I don't know how.

My mom hardly cooks at all anymore. I mean I understand why. She works for about 12 hours a day and she's just really tired. But I feel like she just throws something together really quick just so there's something. But it's not enough for 3 meals. It's barely just enough for one meal, and my sister and I have to share it! I mean she doesn't starve us. Usually we just dig through the house until we find something, like ramen. But I get so tired of that. I want good, real food. I also feel like it's deteriorating me and my sister's health. My mom used to cook good meals before, but she stopped when my parents separated. I feel like it would be rude to confront her because I know she already works hard everyday at work to provide us with a house and all that, but she used to have the time to cook. Why can't she cook now? I would learn how to cook, but we don't even have food in our house to cook with and I can't drive anywhere to get food. What should I do?

People run from rain but sit in bathtubs full of water.- Charles Bukowski

What's the deeper meaning?

I want to learn how to dance, like hip hop dance stuff. I would really like to take lessons but I can't really do that. Do you guys have any tips on how I can learn on my own? Like a website perhaps that would help me learn to dance?

I haven't done anything wrong for like over a year. I follow her instructions, do my chores. I got perfect attendance and straight A's the whole year. My lowest grade was a 94 the whole year. I don't do anything wrong. The only things I did wrong was when I was in 5th grade, I texted in class and got a referral. And I texted while I was supposed to be sleeping, twice. But it happened over a year ago. I'm in 8th grade and my mom doesn't trust me because of things I did a few years ago. I learned my lesson. I've changed and matured. What do I do? I think I'm a good kid. My mom says she thinks I'm a good kid too but she won't trust me with my phone in my room and she shuts off my text at 9pm. I've tried to be good, but she won't forgive me for my mistakes.

So I'm 13 and my mom works from 8 am to 8 on so I'm home alone most of the time but my grandma lives across the street so she can watch me. I'm bored out of my mind at home. So I'll call my mom and ask her if i can ride bikes around the neighborhood or walk the dog or go swimming at the neighborhood pool. She always says no and it's bumming me out. She thinks that I'll get kidnapped or raped. I live in a pretty good area and the chances of that happening are low but my mom won't listen. I think she watches the news constantly so that's why she's afraid. But I just feel like all i do is stay cooped up in the house and I'm not allowed to do anything fun. I feel like in wasting my life at home. My 8 year old neighbors are allowed I ride their bikes around the neighborhood but I'm not allowed. They haven't been kidnapped... I feel it's unfair.

She also makes me charge my phone out in the living room, only turns on my text on and Internet on at 4-9pm and and my bedtime is 9 pm. I'm the only person who i know who's mom does that. I feel like she doesn't trust me or something. Am I being a brat? I just feel like i don't get to do anything. :/ like none of my friends parents do this... What do I do?

My dad wants to live in Houston where his side of the family is but my mom wants to live in Austin where her family is. So right now, my dad lives in Houston and my mom lives in Austin and I live with her. They're still together but it's complicated and they're trying to figure out their relationship. Honestly, it doesn't matter to me if they're together or if they live together as long as they're happy. I want to stay in Austin because this is where I've lived for 5 years already and I have some good friends here. I don't really want to go to Houston but I know it would make my Dad really happy. I think he feels like I don't love him or think about him even though I'm his child. What should I do?

So my parents can be bitches sometimes. They disconnect the modem (you need that to use wi-fi) and hide it. Um.... wtf? Once they even hid the freakin' wii. They don't let me charge my phone in my room, and they block my text and calling at 9 pm. WOW. And this is all when I DON'T do anything wrong! I think this is totally unfair!! I never do anything bad! The worst thing I've done is stay up late. Well I'm a teenager. What do you expect? And I have a hard time falling asleep so I try and be productive and do something. They yell at me for every little thing. Ugh any advice for what I should do? Btw they're asian. Figures huh?

What would my parent's cousin be to me? Also what would would my parent's cousin's children be to me? Thanks