Make your Workplace your Wellspace. Improve the health of your organization, Pump life back into business meetings and conferences with Kristy Stevenson, Med, RD. family t /VUSJUJPO$PBDI t 4QFBLFS-FDUVSFS t 8FMMOFTT8PSLTIPQT When To Speak Up www.PerformanceNutritionLLC.com 49295 West Rd. • Wixom, MI 248.320.5865 kristystevenson@comcast.net Dear Debra 221850 S end your ques- tions to deardebra@ renmedia.us. DEAR DEBRA, Foot Pain? Recently I had lunch with someone and Debra Darvick during nearly the entire meal, she had some food stuck in her teeth. I didn’t want to say anything and embarrass her. I stayed quiet, but then felt bad because what if she went through the day like that and found out only when she got home? What should I have done? Relief Is As Little As 30 Minutes Away! Get a personalized foot scan with our iStep machine, find your exact pain points, and get a custom-fit solution from our huge inventory of name-brand shoes and arch supports. Get $ 15 OFF! Any Shoe Purchase Take $ 15 off any of our great brandname shoes like New Balance, Drew, Dansko, Aetrex, Fly and more! WalkHappy.com Some restrictions apply. See store for details. Expires 1/17/2018. —Tell or Not? 3342 Woodward • Birmingham • Mon. – Fri. 10am to 6pm • Sat. 10am to 4pm applies. Gently suggest that they check in a mirror before departing. They may pull out a compact right away. OK, today more likely a cell phone reversed to selfie mode. You are doing the person the chesed, kindness, of helping her stay her best. I understand the ambivalence and the awkward factor. But think how you’d feel if you were in her shoes, especially if she was trailing bathroom tissue. DEAR DEBRA, My son and eldest child has just left for college. His absence has hit me harder than I ever would have expected. I find myself thinking of him so much and last week even teared up when I saw another dad in the neighborhood throwing a ball with his son. My wife seems to have taken it in stride. What’s wrong with me? —Bereft Dad DEAR BEREFT, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RODENT CONTROL Keep the Bugs, Rats and Mice Out for the Winter! DEAR TELL, When I was younger, I learned from my mom how to handle these awk- ward moments. If someone was on an escalator ahead of us, when we all reached our floor she would tap the woman’s elbow and say quietly, “Pretend I’m your mom. May I tuck your label in for you? Or would you like to straighten the back of your skirt?” The person was grateful, thanked my mom and went on her merry, and neater, way. This holds the same, and even more, for someone with whom you are sharing a meal and, thus, I would imagine is not a stranger. Simply say, “When we’re done, you might want to check in the mirror. There’s a small piece of [whatever] caught in your tooth.” If it’s not the mouth but the nose, same rule FREE Evaluation and Recommendations ($69.00 value) WE HAVE STATE CERTIFIED BED BUG AND CARPENTER ANT SPECIALISTS READY TO SERVE YOU (248) 585-2600 Family owned and operated since 1900 Over 100,000 satisfi ed customers since 1900 46 December 14 • 2017 jn 2201620 Nothing is wrong with you! You have a heart. You have a wonderful relationship with your son, and he has just taken a huge (and be grate- ful for what is), age-appropriate step toward independence. No mat- ter how hard you might try to pre- pare, it still hits like a ton of bricks. And though you didn’t say it, I’d imagine he’s probably so caught up in navigating his new world that you haven’t heard from him as often as you’d anticipated, which makes it worse. Keep sending texts, emails, voice messages, (judiciously, not constantly!) whatever is your regu- lar mode. If it’s feasible, and you haven’t done so already, make plans to visit during parents’ weekend. Use this new normal to create new traditions with any children still at home. The dynamics will surely change now. Without big brother there, his siblings might well blossom in new directions. Develop a new interest — on your own or with your kids — and definitely devote more time to your spouse. Above all, be proud! Your son is beginning an exciting new stage of life. Mourn when the feelings overcome you and guard against dwelling on his absence. You are entering an exciting new stage of life as well. Step up and meet it. •