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Dr. M is the author of five advice books for tweens and teens. Her latest is Where Should I Sit at Lunch? The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years. She enjoys dancing, reading, working out and talking with young people about the issues that concern them. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.
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Liz, a first-year college student, is the co-author of three books: Ask Dr. M and Liz; Getting to Know the Real You: 50 Fun Quizzes Just for Girls, and Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good? She loves to dance, paint, make collages, hang out with friends and, of course, give advice.
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Dear Dr. M,
I've been doing karate for 6 years and my dad will yell at me for not getting 1st place. My friend overheard him yelling at me and told a bunch of people. A couple of weeks ago, my dad blamed me for getting 5th place at a tournament. My good friend overheard and told my dad to leave me alone! I cried of shame that I needed a friend to tell my dad off. My friends are the only ones I can turn to. They are my only hope of staying alive. My dad might make me quit karate because of my friends! I love my friends and I don't want to leave them forever. My friends are trying to plan a way for me to stay at one of their houses so I can live with them instead. My friends don't want me near my dad. They think he's abusing me, which is sort of true. He hits me once in a while and yells at me and calls me names. I don't want to leave my friends Dr. M! I want to stay with them! HELP ME!
—Caitlyn, 12, California
Dear Caitlyn,
You're at an age when friends are naturally very important, but there are some problems that are best handled by adults. While your friends are trying to support you by figuring out where you can live, you need an adult to help you sort out what would be best for you. You don't mention a mom or any other family member who might be able to assist you, so I'm assuming that at home it's just you and your dad. Perhaps you can turn to a guidance counselor or social worker at school or maybe an adult relative or a friend's parent for help in dealing with your difficult home situation. Please let me know how you're doing.
—Dr. M
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