Editors note: Per Shayna B.’s request, and in her own words, “I have really enjoyed writing the advice [column] for the past [several] years. It has been a lot of fun, but all good things must come to an end. With that in mind, I would like to pass the torch to my younger sister, Ariella. She is very excited to continue the column.”

We would like to thank Shayna for all of her hard work and dedication during these past few years. Your insights will be missed!

And we would like to introduce our readers to our newest advice columnist, Ariella B., whose first article appears below. We are excited to get to know her the way we did her sister, through her words, and welcome her to The Jewish Link.

For my first question for my new column I wanted to answer a question about sisters.

Dear Ariella B.,

I have a sister that blasts music and speaks loudly whenever I try to go to sleep. I get really tired at night and am so unhappy she does this. I can never focus on school or camp or anything I am doing the next day. What should I do?

Exhaustedly,
Tired Tina

Dear Tired Tina,

I understand how annoying this can be. I have siblings of my own and we never, I mean don’t always, agree on everything either. Try compromising with your sister. Maybe she goes to bed late and you get up early. Tell her you’ll try to be quiet in the morning if she is quiet at night. If she’s not the compromising kind, maybe you (your parents) can get you noise-canceling headphones so even if she’s loud you can sleep undisturbed. Earplugs are also good for that and they’re pretty cheap. But if all else fails do not hurt your sister! She will continue to make noise! It does nothing. Trust me, I’m a little sister (you all know my big sister), so I know!! However, if your noisy sister won’t stop playing the drums at midnight while eating pretzels with her mouth open, see if you can get your parents to take her on a family trip to the desert this summer and “accidentally” misplace her plane ticket home. When/if she gets home, I have a strong feeling she will be quieter, and also very tan. Win/win!

Until next week (read in a whisper),

Ariella B.

Ariella B. is an elementary schooler who is happy to give you advice for your everyday problems. Send your questions to [email protected]