*Advice Columnist Contest*

[SuSaNnAh]

The RESULTS have been made!!!! SARAH IS THE AVICE COLMNIST!



We have decided to have an advice columnist! You will be notified if you are chosen!!!
FIRST OF ALL: There will be 1 advice columnist!
2nd: YOU NEED TO KEEP THINGS CONFEDINTIAL! (Name of person you wrote it, etc.)
3rd: You will know ALL the rules later!
____________________________________________________

Rules of Contest:
1. Read the situation given
2. DO NOT POST UR ADVICE! (PPL cud take what you wrote and put it into their advice!!!)
3. PM me and Francesca (You dont need to send it twice, just put both of us in the sending to line)
4. PM it 2 us BY January 1st.
5. We will tell you who won on the 2nd!
___________________________________________________

Situation:
*This situation is not a real situation for me, I am making it up*

At the end of July, my mom went up to a meeting for my grandma. My grandma is VERY disabled. The people at her nursing home told her that she could not give her her pills anymore. The problem is that the nurses there couldn't give pills *dumb*. So my mom, without any notice, brought my grandma to my house. She took my room, brought weird people in my house, and looks weird sometimes. SO, because she took my room, I had to stay in a room with my youngest sister. WHICH IS TERRIBLE! My grandma gets on my nerves but idk what to do!

- Frustrated in S. Francisco

*Plz PM me and Francesca ur advice to this problem by January 1st, 2007!*

[SuSaNnAh]

Here was her advice:

Dear S. Fransisco,
It sounds like having your grandmother move in is putting a large amount of stress on you, and the other members of your family. I know it is hard to have a very sick or disabled family member, epsecially when you are around them a lot, and having extra nurses and other people inyour house is also very odd, even though you know they are helping your loved one. Sharing a room with your sister must be very hard too, especially since she is the youngest.
When I had a very sick family member, that family member looked very different from how she was "supposed" to look. If her appearance is something that bothers you, don't neccesarily try to avoid her, that can make you and her feel very awkward. If you can, talk to another family member about WHY you feel so odd around your grandmother.
As for having to share a room with your sister, that really stinks. Maybe you could some how separate your room into two parts, with some cool room dividers; I've seen some at the Pottery Barn for Teens site. Also, try to explain to your sister that this is a very hard time for you, especially having to share a room, and that you would appreciate some quiet, alone time every once in a while. If she doesn't understand, try bringing up the topic at the dinner table one night with your family, or in the car with your mom or dad. Talking about things always helps.
Things may get better after you get used to this new routine. Just remember, stay strong, thing WILL ALWAYS GET BETTER. Don't be afraid to talk about your concerns, maybe there is a group of people going through the same thing as you, talking to people who understand what you are going through can be the best listeners.
Well, I hope I've helped you. If you need more advice, I would love to help you out, it's what I enjoy doing. I hope the situation gets better with your grandmother and that she can get better soon.
Yours truly,
Sarah