MOM SAYS NO PHONE CALLS WITH BOYS

Dear Jellybean,

My mom won't let me talk on the phone with boys. I guess whenever one calls, she gets really uptight and tells the boy that I'm not allowed to talk on the phone with guys! It pisses me off. I mean, most these guys aren't into me and don't like me that way. Isn't it ok to have guy friends? She thinks I'm to young- but I'm going into the 8th grade! Is there any way to get this woman to come to her senses and let me have conversations with guys????
-GhettoGirl

Dear GhettoGirl,

First of all, you've obviously got email access, since that's how you contacted me. So why not just give boys your email address? It's not the same as talking on the phone, but it's almost as good - and it's better in some ways. For one thing, you have more privacy on the computer than on the phone - your mom can't overhear what you're "saying" on the computer! Just make sure you password-protect your email program, so your mom can't snoop and see what emails you've been sending or receiving. If you can't live without talking to guys on the phone, talk to your mom.

Wait until she's not busy - don't interrupt her while she's rushing out to work or making dinner. Tell her in your very nicest manner (no whining or yelling!) that these days, girls are "just friends" with guys, the same way they are with other girls. Explain that you would like to be able to talk to your guy friends on the phone, and ask if you can set up rules together that would make her comfortable with that. For instance, she may want to have a rule that you can't have phone calls after 8:00 pm, or your phone calls must be limited to five minutes each. If she says okay and lays down some strict conditions, don't argue! Be happy you've scored her permission, show her you're grateful by not bickering about the rules, and wait until later on to work on getting her to relax the rules. If she says absolutely no phone calls from boys (under any conditions), talk to one of your girlfriends whose parents are more lenient. Ask them how you could talk to your mom - they might have great suggestions for how to convince her. Good luck!