Hey Shayna,

All of my friends are maturing faster than I am. They constantly talk about growing up; because I’m not growing as fast as they are, they leave me out. I feel like they are moving away from me and towards this madness. Sometimes they have secrets and go to each other’s houses together without me. What should I do?

Dear Immature Isabella,

Changes can be hard. Don’t desert these friends, but do get more friends. Expand your friends.

You need friends who understand you. Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and actually wait to hear the answer. Did those friends do that? Go search for friends who do. Kind people are my kinda people. They should be yours, too. They should be everyone’s.

However, this is just a phase. I’m not saying wait it out. Don’t. If you really think these people are worth it, maybe you should tell them how you feel. If you don’t like them that much, you might not know it, but the people you’ve been friendly with are actually your friends, too. Invite those new friends over and get to know them better.

Shayna is a sixth grader and knows what kids in elementary school and middle school are going through. She can be reached at [email protected]. She’s looking forward to hearing from you! Contact: [email protected].