Q. What does it mean if a person needs an MRI after a mammogram? Can you explain both of those things? I think I spelled the last word wrong. Can you fix it? I can’t google it because I don’t have a phone. Can you believe I don’t have a phone? I can’t search on a computer because my mom chec…
Q. I know you are a very busy woman, but I have been thinking about some things. I’m currently not in a relationship, but I can’t talk to my mom about things like this. So here’s my questions: How will can I tell if a guy will treat me right, and not “use” me, before entering the relationshi…
Q. I stutter. My family hears it. My teachers would notice it more if I actually answered in class. I’m very, very quiet at school.
Q. I’m sick of people making New Year’s resolutions. Nobody keeps them. People go on diets that last a month at the most. They exercise for two weeks. They try to be kinder to others for a day or two. I’m sick of people saying, “This year I’m going to do better.” Do better right now. It’s re…
While searching for a question this week, I came upon this column from December 22, 2016. I seldom recycle columns; this one reminded me how challenging holidays can be for many. The list below – created in the 90s by a 15-year-old in placement – still echoes with courage and hope.
Q. I want to know why my mom doesn’t understand where I’m coming from sometimes. She thinks she knows what’s best for me but sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn’t. Sometimes I think she doesn’t want me to be happy. I wish she would see my point of view. – 16-year-old
Q. When will I get my daughter back? Since she turned 13 she’s all attitude and anger. Her teachers tell me she’s great at school. She is a good student. Why is she so nasty to live with here at home? – Frustrated parent
Today, I continue a tradition begun in 2006, when I started seeking Peer Educator wisdom for this column. Every year I ask young people their thoughts about gratitude. I’m pleased to offer these important young voices again. They give me strength, and their resilient spirits inspire me. I am…
Q. How do I explain to my baby sister that Santa doesn’t bring all the toys? Should I just say that? She’s 6. Last Christmas when she was 5 she didn’t seem to notice much of who got what, but this year she’s paying attention. She tells me when kids at school have things she’d like to have. S…
Q. I’m almost six months pregnant and nobody but the dad knows. I know it’s stupid but I guess I kept thinking if I didn’t tell anyone it would go away. I wear big hoodies and stretchy pants. I think people think I’m gaining weight. Most of my teachers don’t notice me anyway. The father left…
Today’s column is an atypical one.
Q. My dad has a girlfriend. I don’t like her. I know I’m not giving her a chance, but I don’t want her in our lives. My mom died three years ago of cancer. I don’t like to talk about it. It was horrible. Dad and I were just fine for a while. Then last year he started with this woman. I put u…
Q. Should I try to regain trust with my husband? I went for my annual gyne exam and was told I have an STD. I’ve been with him since college. He was my first partner. We’ve been married 12 years. We have kids. When I told him about the STD, he accused me of cheating. I’ve not been with any o…
Q. Will you talk about what not to say in a relationship? My significant other annoyed me the other day, so I told him, “You’re annoying me.” He said, “I’m not being annoying.” How ridiculous is that? I know if I’m being annoyed. How can he try to tell me he’s not annoying me? Does he think …
Q. Why do kids need to go to schools where they live? That seems unfair to me. I know kids my age who go to private schools. They get more attention from teachers and get to take classes my school doesn’t offer, like real art and drama. I know there are private schools for the arts, but I’m …
Q. Will you help settle a disagreement between my daughter and me? I say screen time on phones or tablets is detrimental. I believe such devices should only be used sparingly, to call home if band practice is canceled or when searching facts. She says she is an A student with good social ski…
Q. My friends call me weird for seeing a therapist. They make fun of me every day at school. I go to one because I’m depressed. Should I stop?
Note: I sought a suicide prevention related question to raise awareness during Suicide Prevention Week – Sept. 8-14. I’ve updated this column from 2006; the issue remains pertinent.
Q. It’s only been a week and I’m already sick of school.
Q:I’m worried about my friend. I’m worried because I think my friend is depressed. I fear he uses alcohol to mask his sadness. We went to different colleges and he was heavy into the frat scene. I see him every couple months now that we’ve graduated. He can’t find a job in his field and he d…
Q: My daughter leaves for college soon and I’m a nervous wreck. I know protecting her is an illusion even when she’s at home. It just feels safer when she’s sleeping under my roof. She’s my only and it’s been just the two of us for the last 10 years. Any advice for how to prepare her to avoi…
Q:Can you write something in your column to make my parents calm down about the apps on my phone? They saw something on TV about how kids are in danger and all they do now is check my texts and my phone app use. They’re so afraid, it’s making me nervous. I’m fine. Most kids are just fine. Ca…
Q. I pretty much grew up with school shootings and lockdown drills. This one in Dayton brought it close to home because one of our own was senselessly murdered.
Q:I’m a new teacher and I learn a great deal from you columns. I’m curious. Will you answer two questions of mine. The first question is, where do you get your questions? They’re so varied and interesting. And, two, how do you answer them? Do you have a routine? I want to answer my students’…
Q.I’m going to just be blunt. My kid smells! He’s 10 and I cannot interest him in hygiene. Getting him to brush his teeth is a battle. I tell him to take a shower and he acts like I cut off his arm. I know it’s not just him because when his buddies are over it smells like a locker room. Any …
Ask Mary Jo column: Respect, consent essential in relationships.
Q.My teen won’t sleep, which is ironic because as a baby and toddler he was such a good sleeper my friends were jealous! I’d put him down in the crib, say goodnight, and he’d sleep. Easy-peasy. Now he’s 14 and he’s up all night. I’ve taken his phone, his tablet and his computer each night at…
Q.This summer is going to be so hard. My parents separated three years ago and I kinda got used to it. My dad also disappeared from my life. I saw him two Christmases but that’s it. Now, here they go and get divorced, and my dad is back, and he got shared custody of me and my little brother.…
Q.I know a kid my age who has cancer. We don’t see him at school much anymore. I know he’s pretty sick. I’m scared to get it too. My mom said you taught her in high school, and I should talk with you because she doesn’t know what else to tell me. My grandpa died last year. He had cancer. I’m…
I love teaching sixth graders! They’re smart and fresh and eager to learn. Some are able to speak about sexual health at home; I am grateful for their families. Most have no trusted adult with whom to seek answers to their questions. Many have online access, which often means they need someo…
Aaron Miller received our 2019 Youth Advocate Ward and The Dreamers Co. received our 2019 Community Award for their outstanding work supporting young people. I was honored to speak at the Dreamers Youth Conference this year and was asked to respond to these questions from the conference.
Today’s column contains my final responses to the May 16 column’s question about reproductive misinformation.
As promised, today’s column will continue my response to last week’s question: I’m a former student who is now the parent of a 12-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. I really wish you could teach them but we live out of state. I’m your FB friend and I learn a lot from your posts. You recent…
Q.I’m a former student who is now the parent of a 12-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy. I really wish you could teach them but we live out of state. I’m your FB friend and I learn a lot from your posts. You recently posted an article about reproductive misinformation. Can you address the a…
Q.What if I have sex and then the person gets mad at me later and says I forced her? I haven’t had sex yet, but this worries me. I heard my dad say you can’t trust girls.
Q:How can you tell if a relationship is abusive or not?
Q.I read your column about making an ethical decision and it made me think about something that happened in my family.
Q.Can you give me some examples of microaggressions? I asked my dad at dinner and he started to respond, but my stepmom stopped him by saying, “Nothing good comes of talking about that.” The tension got so high that I excused myself from the table. I don’t understand. I’m curious about life …
Q.I’m a college senior. I know my roommate plagiarized on a paper that’s 40 percent of our grade. She submitted her older brother’s paper in its entirety. He aced this class five years ago. I was certain the professor would notice but he’s in and out of class due to health issues and the TA …
Q.Dear Mary Jo, it’s been 20 years since you were our “sex lady” and I still feel that you are the only one I can ask certain questions and get an honest answer. I know you get lots of questions every day and understand if you don’t have time to answer, but if you do ...
Q.I have a question. Why does the amount of melanin a person has define him or her more than their personality? Why are African-American teenage males so often at the receiving end of a trigger? Why is it that people of color have to be scared to go to school, to drive or to hang out with fr…
I received a question yesterday from a young adult who mentioned writing to me in 2009. I checked my database and found his old question. I’ve included his original question with his recent comment. I hope children today will experience less torment than he did; we adults must make it so.
Q.This is gonna sound weird. Is there such a thing as stress when things are going well? Like, my life is good. School’s good, grades are good, I’m playing sports I love, I have good friends, I’m getting ready to take the SATs and look at colleges. My family’s a little strange but pretty fun…
Q.I feel invisible. Sometimes I’m OK with it because being ignored means nobody makes fun of me. Other times I wonder what’s so awful about me that no one knows I’m alive. Can I change this? Should I?
Q:Somehow I caught something called ADHD. I always thought I was just stupid. My mom said I have this attention thing and I need to take a pill or something. Am I OK? Can you help me figure this out? Thanks.
Q.Other teens assume my economic status based on where I live. How should I respond?
Q. I’m so stressed some days I feel like I’m going to explode. Is there any way I can be less anxious? It seems to be getting worse. By the way, I can’t go to counseling -my mom says I need to just deal with it until it passes, and my dad says life sucks, so I need to get used to it. Thanks.
Q:How do you respond to a friend who keeps interacting romantically with and dating adults?
Q. I found out my mom’s ex cheated on her while they were still together. My little sibling was even around them when he did it. He has put my mom though enough pain and I don’t think telling her would benefit her in any way. It would just send her into another depression spiral. Am I making…
Jan. 27 is our Teen Outreach’s 10th annual Washington’s Got Talent finale at Canon-McMillan High School, from 1:30 to 4 p.m.
Our Teen Outreach’s 10th annual Washington’s Got Talent finale will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, at Canon-McMillan High School. The show is our only fundraiser and is perfect for our mission. More than 200 young people are involved in planning and producing the event, led by …
Q.I have a dilemma. One of my friends lost a parent, which was very sad. The death was unexpected. The family didn’t have life insurance. My friend went to a crowdfunding site and created an appeal, asking for money for funeral expenses. Many thousands were raised. I visited when home from s…
Q: What do you do if you’re disappointing your whole family and they don’t even know it? I’m the first person in my family to go to college. I got into my first-choice school and my first-semester grades were great – a 3.6. I came home to such pride and happiness from my family. My mom keeps…
Traditionally, my last column of the year is a chance for our teens to offer their New Year’s resolutions. This year my focus is our Adolescent Advisory Board. The board represents students from 10 different high schools and meets regularly at Washington Hospital. The board’s theme this year…
Often the questions I receive are dark, written by troubled young people. I thought about the impression those questions may make on adults. Do people think all teens are confused? I know they are not. Some teens are more mature than many adults. I am blessed to spend time every day with you…
Q:Is it wrong to break up right before Christmas. I asked my mom, and she said it was a mean thing to do, but I think it’s only prolonging the inevitable. What do you think?
Q: You taught me sex ed in high school, but I doubt you’ll remember me. My mother died when I was young and you reached out to me, even though I acted tough and said I didn’t need anyone. When I graduated you told me I could keep in touch. Here I am, 15 years later, seeking help. My mom died…
Q.I ate my way through Thanksgiving. My house is packed with treats. How do I get my eating back on track!
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