Dear Dana is an advice column especially for teens in the Monadnock Region.  The column gives teens a person to ask the questions they cannot ask others.  Dear Dana provides down-to-earth advice in order to help teens in the Monadnock Region.

Q:  I am 13 and I found my perfect boyfriend. Well, I think so anyway. I know I love him and I told him. He just responded, “Same to you.” I don’t know how to take this. I need advice.

A:  I know how tough it can be to put your feelings out there and to feel like the other person doesn’t feel the same. There are many people in this world that cannot express the way they feel in words. Your boyfriend just might be one of those people. You should be able to tell whether he does truly “love” you by the things he does for you or the way he looks at you and treats you. If things don’t work out the way you had hoped in this relationship, I am sure someone else will come along that might make you happy and be able to talk about the way they feel. Hang in there!
 

Q:  I am 16. I just broke up with my boyfriend. I talk to my best friend (a boy) when I am sad. My friends say I broke up with my boyfriend to go out with my best friend. THAT ISN’T TRUE! What should I do?

A:  I can understand that you feel awful having people saying things about you that are not true. Some people will continue to tell rumors about many things in life. You need to be able to let their words slide off your back like a duck. Try not to take anything they say to heart. As long as you are happy with what you are doing, then what others say and think does not matter. Good luck!
 

Q:  My friend’s Dad lets him drink beer at home and he says the police won’t bother him as long as he stays on his property. Is this true?

A:  You cannot believe everything you hear, and it seems like you are not believing your friend. In this case, that’s the right thing to do. It is absolutely illegal to drink alcohol before the age of 21 in the United States. It is also illegal in the State of NH to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, so both the Father and Son might be participating in illegal activity. The laws are different in different states, so it is good to check with your local police to find out what is illegal. Good idea to question your friend’s answer!