Ask The Mask, Vol. 3, Issue 7

First, thank you to the many readers who submitted responses to Ms. Shin's video for The Mask! Here are the top six reader suggestions for how parents can help their children manage the use of their devices:

6. Take away their devices for a week. Or three.

5. Designate a common area for phone use, not the bedroom.

4. Place limits on their screen time, eliminating one hour at a time.

3. Sign up for notifications whenever they download a new app.

2. Don't tell them your Apple ID password and then "forget it" so they are now stuck with games they are tired of or have already beaten.

1. Force them to go outside after a certain amount of time and touch the grass.

Next, many readers have been asking us to post Ask The Mask's first-ever film adaptation of one of its letters. Here you go!

Remember to keep sending us your problems using this Google Form! Okay, here's a brand new batch of letters...

Dear Mask,

I play Fortnite every day for 25 hours, but every time I play, my Unreal friends say I'm bad, and I’ve said it's the controller’s fault way too many times. Help me come up with a new excuse, Mask!

Sincerely,

The Guy from Fortnite

Alabama

Dear The Guy from Fortnite,

You are in luck: I am really great at making excuses! My personal favorite excuse is the classic, “My dog ate my homework.” This excuse can be adapted for any situation. For example, if you break your foot, you could tell them the actual reason why your foot is broken, or instead you could say, “My dog ate it.” The great thing about this excuse is that people always believe it. In your case, I would suggest telling your Unreal friends that your dog ate the controller, and now the dog’s intestines are playing Fortnite with your controller and your dog is the one who is bad, not you. Or you could just practice and get better. But that’s no fun.

Woof woof,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I've been having trouble with my friends lately. Last year, we were a very good trio and always stuck with each other. But now I feel like we're just two separate duos. I've also seen them go and talk to each other alone many times. I know that they can be friends with each other if they want to, but I have some trust issues. Could you give me advice on how to control my trust issues and make sure I can still be part of a trio?

Sincerely,

Stressed Trio Member

San Jose, CA

Dear Stressed Trio Member,

This must be very tough for you. I have been in a similar situation, and I made the mistake of taking it too personally. If you are feeling left out when they’re talking to one another, you can try to bring yourself into the conversation. But the fact that you’re not included in a conversation does not necessarily mean they are going behind your back or that you should not trust them. Maybe you can have a talk with both of your friends separately about how you’re feeling. Hopefully you can feel reassured.

Confrontationally,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I think my friend likes me. He always buys me flowers and presents on holidays. If this helps, I've known him since elementary, so we’re super close. How do I ask him if he likes me without ruining our friendship?

Sincerely,

Girl Who Needs Answers

Mississippi

Dear Girl Who Needs Answers,

If you really think he likes you, and you like him, then I suggest you ask him about it. Who knows? Maybe he really does like you. But I think you should keep in mind that some boys feel obligated to get presents for a girl when that girl is a close friend. I don’t think you should worry about ruining your friendship with him because if he is a true friend, he won't care if you ask him about his possible feelings for you. But I know this is a very scary position to be in, so be strong and best of luck!

Hopefully,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I’m extremely stressed. My best friend unexpectedly told me that they “downloaded TikTok.” Okay, what?! We made a promise to stay on YouTube Shorts forever! YouTube Shorts has better content (Prime, Skibidi Toilet, anime, etc.), and TikTok is just cringe. Ever since they downloaded it, they’ve been all distant and they’ve been playing sports, even though we made a promise to not play sports because they are useless and just to keep to our hobbies, not TikToks. But now they started watching it more and more, and I just can’t deal with it. They’ve started hanging out with the “cool” kids who all watch TikTok. How do I convince my best friend to stop watching TikTok and come back to the light side?

Sincerely,

Disappointed BFF

San Jose, CA

Dear Disappointed BFF,

Once you lose your friend to the dark side, you may never be able to get them back. They’ll be scrolling forever and ever and ever. Even as they’re hanging out with you, they’ll keep on scrolling, from day to night. A bad advice columnist might tell you to report one of their videos to TikTok so that their account gets banned, but not only would that be unethical, it would also not work, because they could just create a new account. So if you still want to stay close, I regret to inform you that the best option is to break your promise and scroll on TikTok endlessly together. And ever and ever…

Slay,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I have waited my whole life for my own room. Recently I learned that I would finally be getting my own room! All my hopes and dreams are coming true. Then I learned that the room my younger sister is getting is two inches bigger than mine. I know that I deserve the bigger room. What should I do?

Sincerely,

The One With the Small Room

San Jose, CA

Dear The One With the Small Room,

You’re right; people often don’t realize how much of a difference two inches can make. We all know that room size one hundred percent communicates which kid is the parents’ favorite, so this is clearly a sign that they don’t love you as much as your sister. I have some simple advice: Kidnap your sister. Lure her one day with candy or something, and watch as she falls into your trap. Keep her in your basement, with nothing to listen to but Taylor Swift, until it’s moving day. With no sister around, the bigger room will surely be yours. What could go wrong?

Room for improvement,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I love Reese's so much that I'm thinking of starting a cult around them. The problem is that starting cults is not socially acceptable. But I still wanna do it, so can I have some tips on how to start a cult and get people to join?

Sincerely,

Reese's Lover

San Jose, CA

Dear Reese’s Lover,

There comes a time in every person’s life when they contemplate starting a cult. Starting a cult takes a lot of dedication and passion. To do it successfully, gather your extroverted friends and coax them into manipulating their acquaintances. Start off slow, casually mentioning how amazing Reese’s taste. Whoever agrees with you is who you’re going to target for your cult. If no one joins your cult at first, you should keep nagging them until they cave. Next, identify a charismatic spokesperson and have them go out out into the wild to attract even more followers. Shun from your community anyone who doesn't like Reese’s, or who is allergic to peanuts (for their own safety, of course). You can then create a figure to look up to, such as “The Reese’s Man,” and have ceremonies to honor them. But be careful: You may get tracked, watched, and even arrested by the authorities. Don’t mind them; they're just haters. One way to get around the authorities is to call your cult a “religion,” which makes it sound less sketchy.

Or, you could just start a Reese’s club at school.

There’s no wrong way,

The Mask

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Almaden Country Day School. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to replace parental or professional advice. 

Ask The Mask, Vol. 3, Issue 6

Welcome to a new issue of Ask The Mask! Our second staff question comes from Ms. Shin, our esteemed Director of Marketing and Communications (and middle school parent!):

All readers are invited to fill out this form with advice for Ms. Shin. If we like your response, we might include it in our next issue! And, of course, you may always submit your own problem using our submission form. Okay, now on to a new batch of letters!

Dear Mask,

I have a crush on this boy, but he has a crush on my best friend. I really want him to like me, and all my friends say that he does, but I don't think so. He doesn't know that I like him. We are really good friends and I don't want a crush to break up our friendship.

Sincerely,

Confused

San Jose, CA

Dear Confused,

This is definitely an awkward situation to be in. I suggest that you talk to your best friend about it. If it turns out your friend likes him too, then backing off is the right thing to do. However, if your friend isn’t interested in him, you may have a chance! He could like you back, or he could jump at the chance to spend more time with you to get close to your best friend at first and then realize he likes you even more. If all else fails, I highly recommend you get a tub of ice cream and watch some Netflix. 

Deliciously,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I love all things Pokemon. But the Pokemon TCG holds a special place in my heart. I just built a brand new deck that is really powerful. I found out that there is a regional tournament in LA. At this tournament I’d have a chance to go to nationals! The reason I’m sending this is because I’m not sure I’m good enough to go to the tournament. My friends say I will get crushed, and that really discourages me. Also the entrance fee is pretty expensive. Please help.

Sincerely,

Unsure Pokémon Trainer

San Jose, CA

Dear Unsure Pokemon Trainer,

I would feel the same if my friends said that to me. Your friends probably aren’t trying to be mean to you, though. They are probably trying to save your feelings from getting hurt if you do not win. If I were you, I would think about why you want to go to this tournament. Do you want to have fun, or do you just want to win? If you only want to win and you think you would not have a good time unless you do, you should consider not going. If you mostly want to have fun, then I think you should go for it! But make sure to ask about and discuss it with your parents first. 

Good luck,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

My friend is so spoiled and she always rubs it in my face. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Poor Friend

San Jose, CA

Dear Poor Friend,

I am sorry this is happening to you. First, I recommend figuring out if this behavior is intentional or not. If it is, you may want to sit down with your friend and tell her about why her statements annoy you. If it is not intentional, let her know that it bothers you, but say it in a way that spares her feelings. Remember to keep the conversation lighthearted, not accusatory. It is really hard to have a friend who acts like this, and you are very brave to confront her. If all else fails, though, here’s a different idea: Do really well in school, go to a super good college, and become a world-famous billionaire. Then, you can rub how rich and spoiled you are in HER face!

That’s rich,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I used to have a friend – let’s call her Bob – who I was mean to. I wouldn't respond to her, and sometimes I would avoid her, but she was still loyal to me. Then I realized how good a friend Bob was, so I started being nice to her. After I did, she stopped hanging out with me. I don't know if she wants me to be mean to her again or if I made some mistake, but I do know she was happy when I was mean to her. What should I do, and do you like hummus or avocado?

Sincerely,

Not So BF

Dear Not So BF,

Personally, I like avocado more, but according to Falafel Express, hummus is healthier: “Hummus is generally the healthier option. It's lower in calories and fat, higher in protein and fiber, and lower in sodium.” Be careful, because if you accidentally feed your dog avocado, it can lead to heart failure and rapid weight gain. Oh, and you shouldn’t be mean to anybody, for any reason, especially your friend. Seriously.

Smash!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I am getting so tired of my students using potty talk! If I hear the word “poop” or “butt” again, I am going to flip my lid! I ask them to stop, and they just won't. Any advice?

Sincerely,

Teacher Tired of Toilet Talk

San Jose, CA

Dear Teacher Tired of Toilet Talk,

That stinks! I do have a couple of suggestions. Number One: You should have a class meeting and talk to your students about how saying potty words is not okay. Make sure to use a serious and stern tone of voice, in order to kick this problem in the butt. Number Two: Keep in mind that they are kids, so no matter how many times you try to force them to hold it in, a few potty words might plop out now and then. They won’t all flush away overnight. 

P.U. later,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I am an excellent caretaker for all my pets, but I think my turtle has something wrong with it. Shelly, my turtle, is always so sleepy! Every time I come home from school he’s sleeping in his habitat, and every time I check he's still sleeping. My dad keeps giving me weird looks and he even told me to "throw Shelly out," but I highly doubt that fresh air will fix my turtle’s sleepiness, and I would NEVER throw out a pet! What should I do?

Sincerely,

Pet Caretaker

San Jose, CA

Dear Pet Caretaker,

I’m sorry that Shelly is feeling so sleepy. Surely what he needs is a pick-me-up! Try doing some of your favorite things with him together. You could watch one of your favorite movies with him; I’m guessing he would love to watch My Little Pony: the Movie with you. While you watch the movie, eat lots of snacks, like ice cream. If he is too sleepy to eat the snacks, then just smear them all over his shell to increase his appetite. He may seem a little bit bored during the movie, so you should start making a bunch of snarky comments. For example, “Wow! Twilight Sparkle is such a jerk!” Then laugh awkwardly until Shelly starts laughing too. You may have to keep laughing awkwardly forever. I hope this helps lift Shelly’s spirits!

Goodnight,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I have a crush.

They talk to me and I blush.

I wish they liked me too

But I don't know what to do.

Oh dear Mask, I think I'm in love.

Should I ask her out?

Should I refrain and pout?

I’m confused and I’m confuzzled.

I beg of you to help me out.

Sincerely,

Desperate Poet

The Gallows

Dear Desperate Poet,

This crush advice you seek

Is far from unique.

I’ve answered this a million times

(Just without the rhymes).

But because I need to write an answer,

I think you should romance her.

Try to write a new letter,

Something original and better.

This was such an an easy task,

Sincerely, dearly,

Ask The Mask

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Almaden Country Day School. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to replace parental or professional advice.