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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Carolyn Hax: Pair should try direct line of communication

Washington Post

Dear Carolyn: My girlfriend, “B,” and I have been together five years. Lately, she has started doing something that really bothers me. I am studying for a degree in chemistry. I also work full time, and lately school has been getting tougher.

Last semester, my mother called and said we needed to talk about something important. She then told me B had approached her, saying I was “miserable because school was always easy to me, and now that it was starting to challenge me, I didn’t know what to do.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.

My mother said B asked her not to mention what she had said to me, but my mom told me because, well, I’m her son. I wanted to confront B about this, but I decided not to betray her trust in my mother.

This really bothers me. I feel like we should be a team instead of her teaming up with my parents to get her way. – Hartford

I like this – your girlfriend has a problem, which she brings to your mom, which your mom brings to you, which you bring to me, and which I make available to anyone in the world with full access to Internet content – and which, if this narrative fulfills its destiny, will make its way back to your girlfriend.

Since I’m a closet optimist, I’ll answer B directly: If you have a problem with someone, then just say it to that person. As a pragmatist, I’ll also answer you in case B doesn’t read this column.

First, tell your mom you’re going to come clean with B, on the highly underrated “enough is enough” premise. While you’re there, talk to Mom about when/if B approaches her again. “This is something you need to bring to my son directly” is all your mom needs to say to B.

You can shield your mom somewhat by saying, “My mom said you’re worried about us,” and decline to elaborate on how much Mom gave up. Say the details are beside the point, because they are; this is about communication between you and B.