How Do I Convince Him We're Just Friends?

A boy at my school used to be my boyfriend. I dumped him after three months because I didn't like the way our relationship was going. He was always making me run away from my friends and ignore them when I was with him. But he still likes me and he won't stop giving me things and telling me how bad he feels and how he still wants to get back together with me. I've told him over and over again that I just want us to be friends but he keeps doing it to me. What should I do? - Jackie, 11, USA

"Hey, Jackie!'" I'm glad you're not still with this guy cuz he has no right to keep you from your friends. (No boy should make you give him and only him attention. If he does, well, he doesn't deserve your company! Friends are important in a girls life, and you definitely don't want to dump them over a guy. So, CONGRATS! You realized that, which many girls don't!!)

However, this guy must think you were just kidding around when you told him it was over -- which you weren't. You need to sit down and have a one on one chat with him, privately, where no one around can put him under pressure and make him act silly. (You've seen it before -- when a guy is with his friends he tends to show off and do things that you may not necessarily find amusing.) Explain to him that you want to be friends with him -- that's it. Nothing more, but nothing less. You don't want to get back together. Make sure he understands that. You might repeat it a couple of times while talking, just to get your point across. Tell him that although it's sweet of him to give you little gifts, you would appreciate it if he'd stop. You aren't going out any more, and there's no need to impress you. If he continues to try to give you things, simply remind him of the fact that you are only friends, and don't take the gift. You may need to tell him more than once to stop, but still point out the main fact that you want to be friends, that's it, and he can stop giving you things.

Hopefully this advice helps! And, don't feel like you need to go and get another BF. You're only 11 and you have A LOT of time for boyfriends.