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mary-jo-podgurski

Column on suicide provokes reader responses

Here are some responses to my Oct. 9 column on suicide: Q. Thank you for your wise words on suicide. I lost my brother that way when I was a teen. I’m in my 60s and I feel I’ve never really gotten over it. I’ve lived my life, married, had babies, now I’m a grandma to three, and it ...

Teen struggles with another’s suicide

Q. Something really awful happened. My mom’s best friend has a daughter who committed suicide. I didn’t know the daughter that well, but I observed her mom grieve and my mom got all worried about me. I’ve felt depressed off and on in my life but I’ve never even thought of ending it all. ...

Adult still wrestles with parents’ divorce

Readers reacted to my column from the 13-year-old dealing with parents who split up. The email below was the most poignant. Q. I’m glad that 13-year-old had you to talk with. My family isn’t big on communication. And they put down anyone who seeks counseling. I should know. My parents ...

Teen confused by parents’ breakup

Q. My parents split up two weeks ago. I feel lost. My mom moved us to another apartment right away because she said the one we lived in cost too much. My dad moved too. I’m supposed to split my time with them, but it’s very confusing right now. I don’t feel like I have a place of my own ...

Adjusting to being away at college

Q. I’m a first-year student in college. It’s the college I wanted but now I’m not so sure. I thought I was ready to be this far from home, but I miss my family. Honestly, I miss everything – my bedroom, my house, my cat, my friends. I even miss my high school, and I was so excited to ...

Preparing your child for school

Q. I’m no longer a teen, but I have wonderful memories of you as my teacher. You taught us all so much, starting in middle school, when you empowered us to be comfortable with our changing selves, through senior year, when you facilitated a great game, you called “out of the bubble” that ...