Are you the only child in the family? If so, you are the most important in your family. Parents are the closest people to you in the world. But a lot of middle school students have a problem. They feel they're not as close to their parents as before. They even don't think their parents are fair（公平的） to them.

    Some students complain that their parents often say a lot to them, but never listen to them. Some say their parents don't allow them to play computer games when other classmates are doing that. Others say when they're making phone calls to friends, their parents like to ask if they're speaking to a boy or a girl. These make them very unhappy. Some students even decide to leave home because they're afraid to tell their parents when they have done something wrong, especially when they do badly in exams. Then they usually think running away is the only choice（选择）. But they don't know running away may bring them some more problems.

    Problems are parts of life. Here are some suggestions for you to solve your problems.

    ⑴ Find a good chance to talk with your parents.

    Don't be afraid to tell them your feelings.

    ⑵ Get help from others like good friends or teachers.

    ⑶ Keep a diary to help you understand more about yourself and your feelings.

    ⑷ Show your parents you're growing up. Then they'll feel you're no longer a small child.

    If you follow the advice, you'll have a happy life and never think of running away.

    As you grow older, you'll be faced with some challenging decisions-like whether to cut class or try cigarettes. Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people take part in and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence how you act, to get you to do something, it's called peer pressure.

    Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system（太阳系）. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it. These are examples of how peers positively influence each other.

    Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them. Your soccer friend might try to convince（使信服） you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball.

    It is tough to be the only one who says "no" to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.

    You've probably had a parent or teacher advising you to "choose your friends wisely." Peer pressure is a big reason why they say this. If you choose friends who don't cut class, smoke cigarettes, or lie to their parents, then you probably won't do these things either, even if other kids do.

    If you continue to face peer pressure and you're finding it difficult to deal with, talk to someone you trust. Don't feel guilty（内疚） if you've made a mistake or two.

—I'm looking for the ring    my husband bought me last year.