lonely boy

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7. When You Find Out the Kid You Love Has no Friends
There are things you find out as a parent, aunt, godmother or whatever role you play to whichever child happens to rely on you. The little guy has no friends in his second-grade class. Or he has a learning problem and can't read "on level." Or he was the one who stole the radio from the store, and he is plenty old enough to know better. Your job is not to feel horrified, wish things were different and never bring this up with your friends or relatives. Your job is to listen to this kid and give him advice and guidance right now. He will be the one who's really embarrassed; you need to be the one who knows how to change his circumstance and attitude so that embarrassment doesn't turn into a life-long case of shame.