I am no longer happy in my hometown. I want to move to
where the rest of my family is (cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc). I
have friends here but they are rude and hurtful. I know that my family would
move, if only my parents could find a job there. How do I tell my parents I don't want to be here...that I hate my
friends...that it makes me sad to be here?
Hey girl, I’m sorry you feel so unhappy right now. You can try talking to your parents
first, but it sounds like moving might not be the best option for your family
because of the job issue. Instead of just picking up and moving, let’s try to
fix the situation at hand so you can (happily!) stay put where you are.
It’s tough to live in a place that makes you feel
uncomfortable or sad, and even tougher when the rest of your family is living
somewhere else. On top of that,
having a group of friends that you’re not too fond of doesn’t help the
situation either, but there are some ways that you can cheer up without having
to call a moving truck.
Find some hometown highlights
Every town has its good and bad qualities. Even though
you’ve been noticing the bad more than the good lately, try to turn your mind
to all of the positives. Does your town show late-night movies in the park? Is
there a really good ice cream place down the block? Try to pick out all of your
favorite activities in town, and do them often. You can even visit the local community center or search the
web for fun events in your area, which will remind you of how enjoyable your
hometown can actually be.
Make new friends
It’s time to improve your mood by making some new amigos.
Befriend acquaintances from school, camp, volunteering or your part-time job.
Making just one new friend that you love hanging out with can make a bad sitch
totally bearable. And once you’re introduced to your new bud’s social circle,
just think of all the possibilities! See? Life’s not so dull, after all.
Visit more often
Just ‘cause you’re living in one town doesn’t mean you have
to be stuck there 24/7. Since you
had such a great time with your other family members, see if your parents will
let you visit them more often. Perhaps you can stay a week over the holidays or
spring break. Calling or visiting them more often might get rid of your
hometown blues and make you realize that they’re not as far away as you may think.
Talk to the ‘rents
If you’ve tried everything else and are still feeling down,
have a serious talk with your parents, but come prepared. Make a list of all the reasons why
you’d want to move, and how that move will make your life—and theirs—better. Leaving
your hometown is a big deal, so you have to remember that it not only affects
you, but the rest of your family too.
You can also work with your parents to figure out exactly what it is you
don’t like about the town, and see if there’s anything they can do to change
that and make your life more enjoyable.
Good luck, chica!
BY GL ON 7/20/2011 12:14:00 PM
POSTED IN family, how to talk to parents, dealing with depression