Please, please leave Mr. Postman be

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/06/2021 (1868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I’ve been outside getting some yard work done and started noticing my hot mailman coming by. We’re both around the same age.

Thankfully, he didn’t notice me at first — all grubby with muddy hands — working in my big flower beds. But I sure noticed him, and started cleaning up and making a point of bumping into him as he delivers my mail.

We have made pleasantries, and nothing seemed to move past our small talk. But, I have caught him checking me out with his eyes. A woman just knows. So, I did something pretty forward, even for me who has done some crazy stunts in my life. I left him a little note with my phone number on it taped inside the mailbox where he couldn’t miss it!

The note was gone quickly, but it’s been over a week and he has not called.

Now I feel embarrassed and I’ve been avoiding my front yard at mail-delivery time.

— Wondering If It’s Him, Winnipeg

Dear Wondering: Hitting on the mail delivery person with your phone number is on the same level as leaving your hotel key for a bartender you’ve been chatting up — not classy!

Since you’ve received no response and have been doing some hiding as well, it’s really time to cut the nonsense and play a little game with yourself. it’s called “Let’s Pretend,” as in “Let’s pretend I didn’t pull that un-classy stunt.”

Just be normal and natural — sometimes in the yard and sometimes not, like the note never happened. Nothing good will come of pursuing this further. Frankly, it’s a form of harassment on your part. He’s out doing his job and has to come to your residence, and you’re hitting on him.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: Regarding the letters about the right age to get a kid a cellphone for protection purposes, as a parent and teacher I think there’s no reason a 10-year-old needs a cellphone. My kids got cellphones, with Wi-Fi and the ability to text or call (no data), when they started riding the city bus to get to school at 14.

They’re 15 and 17 now. They’re social, do well in school and didn’t miss out on anything (except maybe some junior high school drama) by not having smartphones sooner. As a teacher, I see every day the issues that social media cause for kids, who are too young to navigate it. Let this kid be a kid for as long as possible.

If this child really needs a phone for safety, buy him a phone that works only for calling in an emergency. I can guarantee you that he, and likely Mom, won’t be that keen on it. Not as exciting as a fancy smartphone!

Lastly, as parents we think kids are safe when they’re at home. That changes with a cellphone. You need to monitor closely what a child is doing online — whether they’re home or not.

— Glad We Waited, Winnipeg

Dear Glad We Waited: Everybody who took the time to write in said kids didn’t need unfettered access to the internet at eight or 10 years old, as it’s addictive and could introduce them to things they shouldn’t see, not to mention predators. Plus, it can become the child’s whole world and they can end up losing their social skills. “Let this kid be a kid” makes a lot of sense to me, except in cases where a young kid has a long, solo walk home in a sketchy neighbourhood.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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