Help! My Father Spanked Us as Kids, and Frankly, We Deserved It. My Friend Insists I’m “Traumatized.”

Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. I want to be able to share the details of my life with you because you’re so important to me, so I really want to figure out how we can make this friendship one where we both feel valued and celebrated.” If Ellie still takes it personally that you’re articulating your needs aloud, it may be time to move on and find a best friend who’s more willing to actually reciprocate. You don’t have to know right now exactly how that would work financially or otherwise, but I think it’s time to make the stakes crystal clear to Mark. —Worried About Dental Negligence Dear Worried, Yeah, considering that you think Tina is “happy and healthy” otherwise, I don’t think you can, as you say, “butt in” on Tina’s dental hygiene to her mother without at least making an effort to get to know both Tina and her mother better first. Get Even More Advice From the Dear Prudence Podcast Dear Prudence, I’m in my early 20s and luckily have been able to land myself an amazingly high-paying job.