0 How can one reduce the negative impact of television

genius asks: what are some solutions that can stem the negative impact of television viewing on teens

Hi genius –

Thanks for your question about television viewing.

As I’ve said on here many times, I’m not a big fan of television.  No dogs are – our humans sit watching TV and not playing with us for hours on end, and it’s BORRRRRRRRRRING!  But I know that you humans tend to like it a lot, and often get quite a bit of good out of watching it.  So I have to accept it.

But you’re asking about the negative impact of TV on teens.  Well, let’s look at what that might be.  Here are a few Continue reading

0 Why do teenagers feel so isolated

ti-f asks: I’m 12 and in sixth grade, and I know most kids don’t have any close friends – I’m actually one of them. Why do I feel so isolated?

Hi ti-f –

There is just about nothing more painful than not having friends.  Friends are as important to most people (and dogs) as health or family.  So it makes total sense to me that you’d feel bad about not having any close friends.  But while it’s always true that we want good pals, you’re at an especially vulnerable age, ti-f.  This is a time when your whole world is changing – inside you and around you – and that can make anyone feel very

Continue reading

0 Can we ask Shirelle about things we can’t talk to our parents about?

Epic1999 asks: I don’t feel comfortable talking to my mum about anything sexual just in case she gets the wrong idea. Would I be able to talk to you about stuff like that?

Hi epic1999 –

I am more than happy to talk with any of my pack members about any subject they ask.  If it’s something I know nothing about, I’ll do my best to find the information you need, or at least point you to someone who can help more than I can.

There are certain issues that I don’t post on AskShirelle about, because this site is for kids as well as teenagers.  But you can always write to me about anything, and I’ll just send answers to you, without posting them on the Continue reading

1 Should teens hide their relationships from their parents?

Yanni asks: I’m only 14 and I really like this guy and he likes me too and he is courting me. But my problem is, I want to be his girlfriend but my parents told me that I could only have a boyfriend if I’m already 18. But I really like him and he puts a lot of effort on his courting. Should I be his girlfriend and keep it a secret or obey my parents even if it hurts me and him?

Hi Yanni –

Oh I’m of two minds here!  On one hand, how romantic it is, to meet behind your parents’ backs like Romeo and Juliet!  But on the other, four years is a big difference when you’re only 14 (can you imagine dating someone who’s 10?!), and even R&J only tried to hide from their parents for a few days – you’re talking about trying to keep a secret for four years, if you wait till you’re 18.

And that’s where my thought really comes in:  You Continue reading

0 Is Shirelle a girl?

popopants: Are you a girl? They understand better.

Hi popopants –

So often on here, my answer comes down to the meaning of words.  “Girl” usually means a young female human.  Well, in people years I’m pretty young (after all, no dog ever gets as old as a middle-aged human).  And I’m definitely female.  And I’m definitely not human.  So am I a “girl?”

Well, when Handsome is happy with me, he does often say “Good Girl!”  And one of his many nicknames for me is “Girlfriend to the Continue reading

0 Should a teen move in with a difficult parent?

Epic1999 asks: I really want to move with in with my dad so I would live close enough to get to see this boy I like every day and we can go to the same school. But my dad and I don’t get on that well, and I don’t want to live with someone who I don’t get on with because it will get me stressed and that could put me in hospital – because I suffer from panic attacks. And second, I don’t want to move for this boy and then break up with him, because my mum won’t have me back if I move. What should I do?

Hi epic1999 –

Of course I don’t know enough to speak with any definitiveness on this, but my sense is that, as much as you’d like to live near this boy, it might not be worth it.  I mean… panic attacks?!  Hey those are miserable!  And if you’re living scared of those all the time, you won’t be able to relax enough to enjoy the relationship you moved there to have!   But on the other hand, is it possible that your moving there could help you create a better relationship with your dad?  If you did, then that would be a true win-win; you’d get the fun of the boyfriend and the lifelong joy of a better relationship with your father.

So my advice would be this:  If you think it’s worth trying, have a Continue reading

1 How teens can protect themselves in cyberspace

Chrissy M asks: How can a teenager protect himself/herself in cyberspace?

Hi Chrissy M –

This is a great question.  Online safety is such a huge issue today, and there are a number of differences between what parents can do for their children and what teenagers can do for themselves.  The biggest difference, of course, is that as a teenager, you need to make more decisions.  While a supervising parent can keep a child from going to certain sites or chatting with certain people or posting certain information – as a teenager you need to make those decisions yourself.  And that’s often very difficult (especially with peer pressure coming at you from every Continue reading

0 How to be more noticed

shae asks: My friend’s daughter told her father that I am quiet and it really hurt me, and now my daddy calls me his “quiet daughter,” and it makes me go in the bathroom and cry. What should I do when people say they do not notice me and it hurts my feelings?

Hi Shae –

Well first let me just say that a lot of our neighbors here wish I was quiet, and would like me a lot better if I were.  So being quiet isn’t necessarily such a bad thing!

And I’m curious about why it hurt you so badly that someone called you that.  What’s so bad about being quiet?  Lots of people prefer quieter people as friends, employees, coworkers, etc.  There are all those old proverbs like “Flies don’t enter a closed mouth,” telling people that silence is often a virtue.  There are SO much worse qualities!  People could say you’re mean, or you’re unlikable, or you’re a Continue reading

1 How to motivate people

sarah asks: Dear Shirelle, my friend needs help with motivating lazy people to do their jobs. He holds the position of command sergeant major in JROTC. He basically needs advice on motivation, getting people to listen to him and also to plan how to take charge of a company.

Hi sarah –

I feel a little funny answering this, given the nature of ROTC and JROTC.  For those of you who don’t know, ROTC stands for Reserve Officers Training Corps.  It’s a program in the US Army where people train to be officers.  (JROTC is the Junior version of it, for younger people)

My problem is that armies around the world have been doing a very good job of motivating people for centuries and more!  And I would think that part of training an army officer would be teaching them how to get people to do what you want them to do.  So I’m not sure how much a dog’s advice is worth, when compared to what they teach there.  But here are some Continue reading

0 How to win a guy

prettyndsweet12 asks: I have a major crush on this boy, and this girl who knows I like him is always hugging on him and flirting with him and he likes her too. Can you pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease give me advice on how to approach him and ask him out – because I want to get him before she does!

Hi prettyndsweet12 –

You want this boy to want to go out with you?  Make it happen!  If I see someone I want to like me, I run up to them and jump up and lick their face!  That’s probably not exactly the way for you to do it, but this isn’t the time for a slow approach.  You want to know “how to approach him and ask him out… before she does?”  DO IT!

Find excuses to talk with him, find out what he’s interested in, and ask him to something he likes.  What would that be?  Any of a million Continue reading