Lunchtime Blues

Dear Dr. Sadie,

I am in middle school. Lately, whenever I go to lunch and I sit at a lunch table with other kids, they all get up to leave. I end up eating lunch alone. It makes me very sad. What should I do?

- Lonely in Lakeside

I think you should ask them "why are you leaving the lunch table?" Then they will say how come they are leaving. Maybe they are done with lunch. That's a good reason to leave the lunch table. Maybe you're just a slow eater and the other kids are fast eaters.

Maybe you could eat with other kids - maybe your friends that live next to you. You could meet other kids and say "will you be my friend." Then your new friends would sit with you.