Wed Sep 25 10:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Middle-Aged Friendships and a Son’s Difficult Breakup: Care and Feeding Offers Advice

**Slate’s parenting advice column, Care and Feeding, tackles two pressing issues this week: the difficulty of making friends in middle age and the fallout from a teenage relationship gone sour.**

**Making Friends in Middle Age: Is It Just Us?**

One reader, who moved to a new town a decade ago, laments the lack of close friendships despite actively trying to connect with other parents. She’s invited families for playdates and coffee, but received no invitations in return. Care and Feeding’s author acknowledges the reader’s frustration, suggesting that social norms have changed, making reciprocal invitations less common. The advice? Continue issuing invitations, even if it feels like a one-sided effort. Additionally, the column suggests finding friends outside of parenting circles by joining social sports, volunteer groups, or other activities.

**Navigating a Son’s Difficult Breakup**

A parent is seeking advice after her son’s six-month relationship with a 16-year-old girlfriend ended badly. The girl’s parents are now forbidding her from seeing the son after she claimed he forced her into sexual activity. The parent, who initially intervened to address consent issues, is now worried about her son’s anxiety and the potential for further repercussions.

Care and Feeding urges the parent to step back and let the situation play out, recognizing that the son and his ex-girlfriend are not good for each other. The column advises seeking professional counseling for the son to help manage his anxiety and address issues of consent. Additionally, it prompts the parent to consider how she would respond if the girl’s parents take further action based on the alleged forced sexual activity.

Ultimately, Care and Feeding emphasizes the importance of allowing space for young people to navigate their own relationships, while providing support and guidance where appropriate. The column reminds parents that it’s okay to prioritize their own well-being and not be constantly involved in every aspect of their children’s lives.

Read More