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Dork Diaries Book 14

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Salon Brianna

February 18, 2017

MY DAD IS DATING MY 5TH GRADE TEACHER!!!!

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What’s up, Brandon! I have a major issue. My former 5th grade teacher is—gulp—dating my DAD!!! My father thinks that since I already know her, it’s not as strange as him dating someone totally new…but it IS! Whenever she’s over for dinner, it gets SUPER awkward!!! I’m getting REALLY stressed out! I really don’t want the other kids in my class finding out. It would be SO humiliating, and I’d NEVER hear the end of it. If anyone can help, it’s you!

Dad Dating Disaster

Hey Dad Dating Disaster,

Oh wow! This is…a unique situation.

But, maybe it’s not that unique after all. Plenty of kids have to go through discomfort when a parent starts dating someone new. And others feel uncomfortable when they encounter a teacher in a non-school situation.

But yikes, your dad dating a former teacher is definitely a special circumstance. It seems like there are two different things going on here. First, there’s the awkwardness you feel when you hang around them. And second, there’s the stress of what your classmates will think.

So, let’s talk about the awkwardness first. I mean, your dad is being kind of oblivious if he thinks it should be MORE comfortable for you because you already know the teacher. But hey, he’s in love! Or, at least it sure seems like it. Everyone’s judgment gets a little messed up when they’re crushing. Not excusing it, just saying.

I’m guessing your teacher has a better idea that you’re uncomfortable. Because she’s a teacher, she might understand how kids think and feel better than your average adult. But, maybe she’s crushing too hard on your dad to think straight too. (Sorry, I’m sure that’s weird.)

So look, you can’t change how they act. You can only control how YOU react to THEM. Maybe think about WHY you feel awkward. Would anything help you feel less awkward?

Maybe it would help to get to know your teacher better. Then you could stop thinking about her as “your teacher.” Right now, the idea of spending MORE time with her probably sounds like terrible advice. But, I wonder if it might help. Maybe you two could hang out for an afternoon without your dad around. Then you won’t have the dynamic of their googly eyes making things weird, and you can concentrate on getting to know what she’s like outside of school. If you find your own connection with her, it might not be as weird.

As for being humiliated if your classmates find out…what are you worried they’ll do or say? I mean, she’s not YOUR teacher anymore. So they can’t say you’ll get special treatment or something. And, YOU’RE definitely not the one dating her, so they can’t say you’re in love with her (that was supposed to be a joke, by the way. 🙂

They might express shock – “OMG, your dad is dating your teacher!?!?!” But then you can just respond with your own shock. “I KNOW!! I can’t believe it either!!!”

I think this is one of those situations where if YOU act like it’s a big, embarrassing deal, that’s what it’ll be. But if you don’t let it bother you—or at least manage to pretend that’s what you’re doing—other kids won’t see it as such a big deal, either.

And, if you’re stressed about the moment when other kids will find out, maybe take control of that and tell them yourself. If you’re the one who brings it up, that’ll take even more of the power out of it, I think.

How would the rest of you handle it if your mom or dad were dating a teacher? How do you get over the weirdness when your mom or dad is dating ANYONE new?

Category: Ask Brandon Tags: dad, parentsnikki

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Comments

  1. SuperGutsyGirl says

    March 4, 2017 at 3:09 am

    Hey, don’t worry!If someone is being rude,u can ask your teacher instantly!

  2. advice giver says

    March 3, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    OMG that is just sooooooooooooooo messed up if i were you i would yell at my dad and say i hate the girl hes dating and not talk to him like until he says he wont date her anymore or something i know hes in love but still i have a life too I can go in Depression like that so i don’t care about him being love cause like its affecting me and it can lead to poor grades and more so yeah well at lest my dads not dating I’m lucky enough but i still support you I know what it feels like to have a dad dating a teacher its not like my dad did but a lot of people have told me that their dad is dating their teacher or anyone else its like I’m giving advice well i hope my advice is helpful so yeah

  3. Scooby-Dooby-Dork says

    March 3, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    I’m so sorry about that! Just be grateful he isn’t dating one of your current teachers, that would be even MORE awkward!

  4. Anonymous says

    March 3, 2017 at 2:11 pm

    Well on the bright side, she can help you with your studies 🙂

  5. I Dorks says

    March 3, 2017 at 1:03 pm

    I don’t know what’s I’d do if my Dad dated MY teacher!! But think about it, your problem could be MUCH worse. What if ur dad was dating the teacher you have NOW!! You can hang if there!! I know you can!! as RRR says: Let your inner DORK shine through!

  6. A girl says

    March 2, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Dat just messed up! I feel so sry for you!

  7. angel puff says

    March 2, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    Just hang in there!!

  8. ditto dorky says

    March 2, 2017 at 6:00 am

    I’ve got the same problem! 🙁

  9. kristina pimenova says

    March 2, 2017 at 2:23 am

    that is completely fine. just try to keep it on the down low and try to deny it if someone asks, (but you should tell your BEST FRIEND).

  10. RainbowCookies says

    March 1, 2017 at 11:10 pm

    Wow. I personally feel like you should talk to your dad. Don’t say it like, “Stop dating her!” Just say “Is there a time when just me and her can go do something together, just for fun?” Maybe a weekend could be a good day. (P.S. This advice could be used for ANYONE about parents dating different people. :D)

  11. EEBOR lulz says

    March 1, 2017 at 10:18 pm

    Oh wow my dad wanted to (and the messed up thing is that he wanted ME to be the “match-maker”!) and he told me “wow she’s really cute!” And I was like “ugh”

    • Hi me says

      March 2, 2017 at 12:09 pm

      DONT WORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. Anonymous says

    March 1, 2017 at 8:16 am

    YOU WILL HAVE TO STUDY ALL DAY

  13. babyariel says

    February 28, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    wow if that happened to me i would rather stay in the bathroom ALL day !!!!!!!!!!

  14. AdorkableGIRL says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:46 pm

    (GOOD SIDE!!!)
    you can study more
    get MORE As
    she might be a great cook!!
    (MY FAV!!!!) FREE FILED TRIPS!!!

    (BAD SIDE)
    NOTHING!!!!!!

  15. dork4eva says

    February 28, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    WHAT??That must be really akward for u?r u going to talk to you’re dad about it?

  16. AdorkablyKind says

    February 28, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    You can learn faster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😛

  17. ?????????????????????????????? says

    February 28, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    OMG that must be bad! what happens to your mom???

  18. PLC says

    February 28, 2017 at 5:52 am

    WOW 😮

  19. Awesomeness says

    February 27, 2017 at 11:44 pm

    Embarrassing

  20. Amelia. says

    February 27, 2017 at 10:44 pm

    That must be awkward. But it could help by treating your teacher like more of a family/friend. Also you could talk to your dad and tell him how you feel and talk about ways you can make it less awkward.

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