This is Ask Lisa, a podcast to help people understand the psychology of parenting.

Psychologist Dr. Lisa DeMore, author of two New York Times best-selling parenting books, takes your questions.

And I'm co-host, Rina Ninan, a journalist and mom of two.

Some of what we talk about comes from raising children ourselves.

Most of the time, I'll be getting answers to your parenting questions.

So send your questions to Ask Lisa at Dr.Lisademore.com.

Episode 84, how do I encourage my tween to drop a bad friendship?

You know what I loved in the start of school? I loved when you're starting to kind of make new friends and you don't know what the school year might be. And it's kind of exciting. I miss that. You don't have

that in the work world. Yeah, no, it's true, miss that. I don't, you don't have that in the

work world. Yeah, no, it's true, right? Like, you're like, who's going to be in the lunchroom and

where are they going to array themselves and who am I sitting with, right? It's both exciting

and I think terrifying for a lot of kids. Yeah, right now work from home is just me and the dog at lunch. Yeah. Yeah, no, there's some, there's some comfort and pleasure.

And not having to worry about who you're going to hang out with at lunch every day.

Yeah, that's a, that's a tough thing to have to worry about. And we got this letter. What do you do

when your kid is in a friend group you just really don't like? And here's what the letter says.

Dear Dr. Lisa, I'm worried about my sixth

grade daughter's social situation. She spends a lot of time with a friend who makes her feel

bad. And it's clear that my daughter is feeling ready to move on. At the same time, I know that

she's worried that she'll lose all of her other friends in the process. How do I help her end

a bad friendship without becoming socially isolated?

Oof. What stands out to you about this letter? What do you think this mom should do?

Oh, this is such a good question, Rina. And I think it's one of those, I mean, sixth grade is such a prime time for this kind of concern where a kid's like, eh, it's not really working for me

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