She'll be better off with friends who are her own age

Dear Annie: For most of her life, my 11-year-old daughter has been best friends with "Tammy," age 9. Tammy is the daughter of good friends.
In recent weeks, every time my daughter has called her, Tammy has some reason to hang up the phone, so the conversations are very short. When my daughter tries to get together with Tammy, there is always some excuse why she can't come over. When we ran into Tammy at a football game, she totally avoided us and walked around the stadium with her nose in the air.
My daughter is so upset that she cries her heart out for hours at a time. My wife and I have loved Tammy like our own, and I don't understand why she is being so callous. What can we do? Heart Torn in Lennon, Mich.
Dear Heart Torn: It is not unusual for young friendships to fall by the wayside, and girls that age can be emotionally nasty. Encourage your daughter to see this as an opportunity. Her best friend should be someone with whom she can navigate the upcoming teen years, and Tammy is simply too young and immature. Involve her in extracurricular activities that will help her find other, more appropriate friends, and focus on the positives of moving into a more grown-up phase of her life.
Dear Annie: I am a 32-year-old woman, married for 10 years, and have three children. I love my husband dearly, and I think he feels the same way.
My problem is, two months ago, after a party in my home, I saw my husband come out of the bedroom that my brother's wife was sleeping in. He was fully clothed and not in there very long, but seeing this broke my heart. He swears to me nothing happened. They both claim they were just talking, but I can't seem to get past it.
I did tell my husband that I was leaving, but he cried and pleaded and said he could never live without me. This is on my mind all the time. I have dreams about it. I feel less secure. I really want to believe that nothing went on, but a part of me keeps saying something different. How can I get on with my life?
My brother and I were always close, and this seems to have torn us apart. He is OK with my husband, but how do I become OK with them? Wondering in Canada
Dear Wondering: We must be missing some vital information. You saw your husband exit the bedroom where your sister-in-law was resting. He was fully clothed, and you know he wasn't with her for very long. Yet you're convinced something happened. Has your husband previously shown an interest in your sister-in-law? Is it possible he was just saying goodnight or checking to see if she was OK?
There are some real trust issues going on here, and you need to get to the bottom of them before your marriage is destroyed. Please ask your husband to come with you for counseling. It will help clear the air.
Dear Annie: I have been suffering from depression for the past six months. I've gone to different therapists, switched medications and consulted other doctors to see if there is anything else wrong, but nothing seems to make me better. I can't sleep. I seem to have an abundance of adrenaline, plus constant headaches. I've lost interest in things I used to enjoy. It is affecting my job, relationships and health. Any advice? Tired of Being Down
Dear Tired: You may not be giving your medication enough time to work. It often takes six weeks or more for an antidepressant to kick in, and there is some trial and error in finding the medication that works best for you. It's also possible that your symptoms are the result of lack of sleep, and you might want to address that first. And considering the headaches and adrenaline rush, ask your doctor to refer you to a neurologist, just to be sure it isn't a physical problem.
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