A few months ago, we had a letter from a dad who also wanted to help his single kid.

In his case, I wasn’t sure his daughter wanted to date. She had other priorities, and her issue seemed to be that she lived at home. I told him to support the other parts of her life.

You can do that, too – even if your daughter’s priority is romantic love.

If you show enthusiasm for her friendships, travel, work, hobbies, etc., you’ll be telling her it’s OK to care about other things. Maybe she’ll wind up doing more of those things and meeting new people.

This also addresses your concern that she won’t have anyone when you’re not around. More people is good. Remember, she might get married and divorced. Companionship from one person forever isn’t a sure thing, and I don’t believe partnership works well if every emotional responsibility falls to one person. It’s great if she can find a much bigger world – maybe a spouse, friends, a few chosen family members. I assume she has people. It all counts.

I know you want to find a magic solution for this, but there isn’t one. It would be great if she didn’t have to carry your disappointment on top of her own.

Make sure she knows she can have an excellent time, no matter what. She can look for love but know she’s got plenty to do before she finds it.

– Meredith

Readers? How did your parents support you while you looked for love? How have you involved yourself in your kids’ dating lives? What do you notice about people in their 30s? Know anyone in Virginia who’s single and looking?

Thinking about a breakup, a complicated friendship, dating, a divorce, doing none of the above? What’s on your mind? Send your own letter here – or to [email protected].