Annie 8.31.10

Dear Annie: My good friend “Kathy” has an 8-year-old son, as do I. “Brian” is extremely smart, but has a sailor’s vocabulary. He also threatens other children and says he will beat them up. Sometimes, Brian encourages other children to hit him. Over the years, he’s been in trouble numerous times, but Kathy blames the school, saying Brian is too smart to sit still and acts up because he’s bored. 
She’s right that Brian can easily do the work. However, last week I had to tell Brian that he couldn’t play with my son anymore because of his nasty tongue and the threats he made at a religious program they both attend. Brian’s response was one of confusion. He asked, “Why? What did I do?” I was shocked that he had repressed his behavior so well that he did not even acknowledge that his poor choices may have negative repercussions.
I informed him that he had a problem using language correctly. At that point, my son jumped in and gave Brian some rules for avoiding trouble, reinforced with an ultimatum that he wouldn’t play with him anymore if he didn’t stop. 
When I returned Brian to his stepdad, the man was shocked by what I told him and expressed uncertainty of what to do when school starts. I am sad because Kathy is my friend, but I can’t have my son around a boy who clearly has no idea how to behave properly. I’ve always wanted to help Brian, but isn’t it time to write off this friendship because it could hurt my son? — Price of Friendship 
Dear Price: We don’t believe Brian is repressing his behavior. We think he doesn’t realize how inappropriate he is. And since he encourages other children to hit him, there may be more going on. It doesn’t help that his mother blames the school, giving Brian the impression that he isn’t responsible for controlling himself. Please don’t write him off. Your son sounds quite capable of being a good influence, as are you. Suggest to Brian’s parents that they get an evaluation from his doctor.
Dear Annie: I’m 21 years old. It’s been four years since my little son died, and I’m still depressed. I miss him very much. 
No one quite gets how I feel, and it hurts. My depression is affecting my relationship with my boyfriend. I’ve tried my best to get help, but I’m not any better. I work on being happy on the outside, but inside, I’m always crying. I pray every day that everything will get better. What should I do? — Missing My Son in Hawaii
Dear Hawaii: The death of a child is devastating. You could benefit from speaking to others who have suffered such a terrible loss. Please contact the Compassionate Friends (compassionatefriends.org) at 1-877-969-0010, and get some help.
Dear Annie: It is very unfortunate that Dr. DuComb sees fit to paint a broad brush as to the quality of dermatology care provided by physician assistants and their supervising dermatologists. I think the thousands of patients cared for by our membership would strongly disagree. The training physician assistants go through is extensive and mirrors physician training. 
It is unfair for DuComb to claim that a dermatology physician assistant “doesn’t know enough to adequately diagnose and treat dermatology patients.” There are PAs who have worked in dermatology for more than 40 years, and their experience is unparalleled. The Mayo Clinic, where DuComb states she was trained, readily employs PAs throughout their primary and specialty care departments. 
PAs help increase patient access to care, decrease wait time and allow physicians to spend more time with complicated patients. It’s truly a shame that DuComb does not recognize the team-oriented quality health care that a physician-PA can provide. — Renata M. Block, MMS, PA-C, ISDPA President
Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Published in The Messenger 8.31.10

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