There was this kid in my class who a skipped out on our eighth grade trip a couple of years ago. He was all depressed and we think it was because it this took place around Mother's Day.
His mother died a couple of years before. Is there anything I can do to cheer him up, especially around that time of the year?
Kudos for Caring
Hey, girl. Before I go on to say anything else, let’s make one thing clear: What you’re doing now is the first step cheering that guy up. Sure, there are a lot of ways to make him feel better, but the foundation for all that is care. So kudos to you for that!
Keep it Subtle
Now, there’s one thing you should take note of before you go into the specifics as to what you can and will do. If you show too much obvious attention to this friend, he just might feel a tad bit uncomfortable. After all, you don’t want to make it seem like you’re just doing it out of sympathy. You want to show that you really do care and to do that, subtlety is key.
Be a Sweetie
OK, let’s get into some specific things you do for this friend. One thing you can do is to make him feel good by writing a little note or complimenting him from time to time (especially closer to Mother’s Day) that will remind him that he’s special. You want to avoid actually bringing up the topic of his mom because it might bring back uncomfortable feelings.
Hang Time
You can also invite him to hang out with you and your friends when he looks like he’s down. Get his mind off of whatever is bothering him. Keep him occupied. It will also help him to look forward to something positive, and he’ll feel included.
Lastly, just be there for him. Listen to him, if that’s what he needs. Don’t try to fix his problems. Instead, let him know that you care and you want him to feel special.
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