Q: I’m a ten-year-old boy. I like a girl who’s in my class. I don’t know if she likes me. I want to make her like me, but I don’t know how. I know her pretty well, and I guess she knows me pretty well too.
But another boy in my class also likes her and is always getting in the way of things and showing off in front of her. Since he’s there, it’s going to be harder to get her to like me or even be with her, because he’ll be in the way of things. I need help!
A: You’re talking about doing something as difficult (or impossible!) as putting socks on an octopus. Case in point: You can’t «make» somebody like you. Also, there’s not much you can do to prevent the other boy from showing off. So with that in mind, let’s talk a bit about how to at least control the octopus.
Don’t try too hard! Sometimes show-offs work too hard to attract someone’s attention, and it backfires. Give time a chance to let the situation settle. Take your time, and don’t force anything—it won’t work.
Also, concentrate on making and improving lots of friendships with lots of different guys and girls. I wouldn’t advise focusing too much of your energy on one person. You may think that’s what you want, only to discover later you have an unwanted octopus on your back!