You will be nervous, but don't just launch into the breakup. Give him a friendly hello and a smile. If he starts talking to you, don't panic. Sometimes a little small talk before you drop the bomb will help ease the situation. Don't force small talk either, though. When there is a lull in the conversation, take a deep breath. Tell him that you think that the two of you should split. The exact wording is less important than the fact that you should get the point across. This sentence is not the time to be sympathetic or apologetic—make sure your tone of voice is polite but assertive. Your boyfriend's first instinct may be to leave or say something rude. Keep a level head and ask him to talk it out before he gets angry. Give a couple sentence summary of why you want to break up. Apologize. Then, let him ask questions. He may be feeling overwhelmed, so don't be alarmed if he doesn't have much to say. If your boyfriend asks why, do not give him a detailed list of everything he's done wrong. Try to keep it along the lines of "my feelings just faded, sometimes it happens." If he wants specifics, it's okay to give them, but be sensitive. He shouldn't feel like you're attacking him. Above all, try to stay calm. He will feed off your energy. When you sense that the conversation is nearing its end, explain to him that you really do want to get to the point where you can be friends again. However, you should also make it clear that you want to give him adequate time to get over you. Therefore, he will have to make the first move towards friendship if and when he's ready. Let him know that you really enjoyed your time together. This will help him remember that he did mean a lot to you—that the whole relationship wasn't pointless. Once the two of you part, avoid contacting him unless he contacts you first. Don't talk smack about him to your mutual friends, and try not to make anyone take sides.

Summary: Greet him. Encourage talking. Allow the conversation to flow its course. Say goodbye.


You don’t want your child to be bullied or be a bully. Talk to your kids about bullying behavior to stop it before it starts. Go over how bullying hurts other people and makes the bully look bad. Talk about consequences of bullying, such as losing friends, getting in trouble, and risking school intervention.  Ask your children, “What would it feel like if somebody said something mean to you on Facebook?” You can also ask, “What would you do if someone said something mean about you or your friend?” This can help build critical thinking skills and increase empathy. Supervise your child’s use of Facebook and all other social media. Monitor their social media use and put into place some firm boundaries. You can put the computer in a public part of your home, only allow social media at certain times of the day, or create other rules for your child’s safety and well-being.  Don't allow your children to be on Facebook if they're under 13. Facebook's rules prevent children under 13 from having an account. If your child is being bullied on Facebook, have them delete their account, and keep them from using social media until they are older. Help them find healthy and productive ways to have fun and socialize with their peers face-to-face. Children learn best by observing those around them. Be careful how you treat people both in day-to-day living and online. Model good behaviors for your children so that they learn to respect others and not bully. Show your children how you handle difficult situations. For example, if someone says something mean to you on Facebook, show your children a mature response.

Summary: Educate your child about bullying. Set boundaries for Facebook use. Model appropriate behaviors.


It’s normal for kids to have flat feet at least until the age of 5 years (and sometimes as late as 10 years) because it takes time for the bones, ligaments and tendons in the underside of the foot to form a supportive arch. As such, don't panic if your child has flat feet, especially if they don't seem to be causing pain or problems with walking or running — they will likely grow out of it, so no need to seek treatment and try to fix it.  Do the flat surface test to determine flat feet. Moisten your feet and step onto a dry surface that shows your footprint. If the entire surface of your foot can be discerned from the print, then you have flat feet. A person with normal arches has a crescent of negative space on the inside (medial) part of their footprint due to lack of contact with the surface. Flat feet in children rarely cause pain. A tight Achilles tendon from birth (congenital) puts too much pressure on the front 3/4 of the foot, preventing a normal springy arch from forming. The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle to the heel. When it's too tight it causes the heel to lift off the ground prematurely during each step while walking, causing tension and pain underneath the foot. In this instance, the foot becomes flat while standing, but remains flexible while not weight bearing.  The main treatment options for flexible flat feet with a congenitally short Achilles tendon are either an aggressive regimen of stretching or surgery, which are explained in more detail below. In addition to arch and heel pain, other common symptoms of flat feet include: calf, knee and/or back pain, swelling around the ankles, trouble standing on tiptoes, difficulty jumping high or running fast. A rigid, inflexible flat foot remains without an arch whether weight bearing or not. It's considered a "true" flat foot within medicine because the shape of the underneath of the foot remains unchanged at all times, regardless of activity. This type of flat foot is typically caused by bone malformations, deformity or fusions that prevent the arch from forming during childhood. As such, this type of flat foot can be present from birth, or acquired in adulthood due to a foot injury or disease, such as osteoporosis or inflammatory arthritis.  A rigid flat foot often creates more symptoms because the entire biomechanics of the foot are altered. Rigid flat feet are most resistant to accommodative therapy such as shoe inserts, orthotics and physiotherapy. Another kind of flat feet is often referred to as adult-acquired, but it is usually due to overstretching / overuse / damage to the posterior tibial tendon, which runs from the calf muscle along the inside of the ankle and ends within the arch. The tendon is the most important soft tissue of the arch because it provides the most support. The most common cause of posterior tibial tendon overstretching is having to support too much weight (obesity) for too long, particularly if unsupportive footwear are typically worn.  Flat feet is not always bilateral — it can occur in only one foot, especially after suffering a fractured ankle or foot. Adult-acquired flat feet often respond to accommodative therapy, but losing weight is often the key to fixing the problem.
Summary: Flat feet in children is normal. Tight tendons can cause flat feet. Rigid, flat feet are caused by bone deformity. Adult-acquired flat feet are often due to obesity.