I am the father of two girls and I live in a small town. All my friends have at least one son or even two. Every time I meet them they seem to talk about this and make me feel inferior because I have daughters. My wife is also upset because their wives make her feel the same way. This is affecting our family as well. I am sometimes rude to my daughters and wife and at the same time feel guilty about this. I don’t know how to deal with this.
Anonymous
A. Leave your friends. Find better ones. Children are a blessing and I want to tell you that even in my acting school girls are as good as boys at everything and sometimes better. Our society sometimes does undermine women, but the world is changing slowly. We do live in a male-dominated society and we need to work on that as a society. There are a lot of people out there working for the cause. You should explain to your friends that they are causing you and your family harm with their behaviour and I am sure they’ll understand. If they do not you need better friends. Be proud of your family, especially your girls. Give them love, confidence and they’ll make you proud. They are the future of our country and through good parenting you are helping create a better world. Don’t make your girls feel bad about things that don’t matter. Be proud and happy and giving. Nothing else matters more to them and deep down to you as well. It is our basic instinct to protect our kids and if you do the unnatural you’ll be unhappy.

Q. I am an 80-year-old man who has had an amazing life. I have a great family. My children are married, my wife is a wonderful woman and I have had a good run at work and my friends are fantastic. My life has been a great ride and a beautiful journey in many ways. However, I seem to feel low and depressed. I feel empty. I don’t feel good about anything although everything around me is perfectly lovely. Why is this happening to me towards the last phase of my life? What more could I want?
Anonymous
A. As human beings we seek happiness, comfort and peace. I am so happy for you that you had such a wonderful life. I want to say two things to you. First of all as human beings we experience various emotions and they are not all of happiness, there is jealousy, anger, sadness and they are all natural and are a part of us. We don’t have to be afraid of them. They help us grow, change, become better human beings and ground us. Don’t shy away from them. They will come and go. Just like happiness. Secondly, I want to correct something from your query. I don’t agree that just because you are of a certain age you are not entitled to change growth dreams and desires. You have had a beautiful life and there is something you probably seek which is why you feel like this. Be kind to yourself, listen to what is it that is making you feel this way and you will find the answer within you. Allow yourself the luxury of feeling whatever you feel and respect it no matter what. We owe ourselves these things...

Q. What is the difference between hope and expectation?
Akhilesh
A. Grammatically there is probably a difference between hope and expectation. Emot-ionally we sometimes don’t differentiate between the two. However, hope has a more positive connotation. Even when someone is down and out whether in terms of failure or illness, or is disillusioned, one chooses to be optimistic when he or she hopes and works towards it or trusts the fact that circumstances or people may change. Expectation sometimes has a limit to it. Hope is to trust freely. Expect-ation is often a want or desire for a certain amount. There is a price on it and it often leads to disappointment. Hope keeps optimism alive whereas expectations often lead to despair. Hope stems from surrender and trust, and expectations stem from control.