Things to know

Regularly read by 50,000+ readers in over 140 countries around the world, "Dear Bro Jo" is published several times a month.

This is column is just one guy's opinion, and while he does his best to keep what he thinks, says and writes in-line with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, "Dear Bro Jo" is not an LDS Church website. (And Sister Jo thinks you should know that he's sometimes wrong, and often way too opinionated for his own good.)

Nothing here is meant to take the place of talking with parents, leaders, or Church authorities. Please, if you need serious help, talk to a trusted adult, leader, and / or professional counselor.

Please like our Facebook page, and check it often for Discussions, Notes, Events and just General Good Stuff!

Everything here is copyrighted. If you're going to quote any part of anything here, please get Bro Jo's written permission. You can reach him at dearbrojo@gmail.com.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Mom's Bad Date

Dear Bro Jo,

My mother is just recently getting back into the dating game and last week she had a dinner date that started at 5:30. The guy she was with said he was not hungry and only ordered dessert, lied to her about when his divorce was final (he said it was final in November, that is when it was filed.) and said he felt like they knew each other in heaven.

I thought all of this was rather odd, what about you?

Sincerely, Anon



Dear Anon,

He may be weird. He may be an intentional liar. He may have just been nervous or trying to impress your mom.

For now just give her some space and some support. Don't be too quick to be too judgmental.

Everything you ever felt, dealt with, or stressed out about when you were dating is now a part of her life.

Except that it's harder for her than it is for you. You had her for guidance. She's on her own, blazing new territory, and I bet she's terrified.

So be kind. And understand that her choices will be tempered with experience and an understanding of eternal things that you don't know yet.

If in her loneliness she picks a real loser, then by all means speak up before it's too late. But for now give her the benefit of the doubt and room to go on a few bad dates. Remind her that she's a great catch, and there's more than just one guy out there willing to date her.

- Bro Jo

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Accept, not Except. :)

Bro Jo said...

If I was telling the writer to acknowledge that this is difficult for her mother, then you would be correct.

However, in this instance I'm telling the writer that in addiction to everything she's ever felt, its even harder for her mother, so "except" is correct.

Thanks for keeping me on my toes!

- Bro Jo