Dear Aviva, The summer will be here before we know it and I am starting to get more and more nervous about sending my 11 year-old son away to sleep-away camp. I’m sure he’ll be homesick and he only knows 3 other boys going. Also, I doubt he would remember to shower and brush his teeth. I am highly considering cancelling his registration and just sending him to day camp locally. What do you think I should tell him when I change his plans? -Cautious Camp Mom more

Dear Aviva, I will not give out my age or my gender. I merely would like to put out there that I feel under-appreciated and unloved. -Itty-Bitty more

July 30, 2010/ 19 Av, 5770 Dear Aviva, I am in a real quandary. About 6 months ago I lost my job and was having a very difficult time finding a new one. My family was really feeling it and we were … more

Dear Aviva, I just got engaged 2 months ago and have a problem. My friends and I used to be very tight. We would hang out all the time and go away to different places for Shabbos. I have begun to notice that they have been calling me less and less. I see on Facebook that they are still going to cool places for Shabbos and I don’t even get invited. I understand that it’s hard for them that they are still single and I’m getting married, but I thought that our friendship was based on more than just being single together. I’m really hurt. -Betrayed Bride more

Dear Aviva, My husband works two jobs — both of equal importance. This is to allow us to have a stable financial household and allows me to stay at home with my young children, which is very … more

 Dear Aviva, My granddaughter is in 3rd grade and is being bullied by Chani, a neighbor of hers. I have personally witnessed it and it is clear that my granddaughter, Tzippi, is not at fault. … more

Dear Aviva, I feel that my husband and I don’t always see eye to eye on our child rearing. My disciplining ways don’t mesh with his, one reason being that I am a former educator and he has no previous experience with children. I feel that I am constantly telling him how to parent. I get exasperated with his lackadaisical ways, and I feel that it is confusing to our children when I say one thing and he says another. How do we get on the same page? more

Dear Aviva, I have both a friend and a relative with the same issue. If they have a problem with something that I’ve said or done, they will not call me out on it immediately and appropriately, instead they let it fester and brew and not mention anything about it. They may avoid me until one day, weeks later, something may trigger it and they blow. Both these people have had hard lives, and I feel like they take things harder when someone wrongs them. When they finally come out and say why they are upset, they end up standing there blubbering and crying and I feel absolutely no rachmanos for them. They should have said something before! How can I avoid this or handle it better in the future? -Irritated Irritant more

Ask Aviva By Aviva Rizel Issue of August 13, 2010/ 3 Elul 5770 Dear Aviva, Recently I went out with a guy and we really hit it off. On the third date, I found out that he is dating … more

Dear Aviva, I have been married for 13 years and I have four kids. I was looking at some old pictures from when I was engaged and newly married. I was such a different person back then and had … more