Dear Queenie,
My father died of an overdose of drugs when I was just a child. Sometimes when I am with my friends we start talking about our families and I just say my father died when I was very young and they will ask me how it happened.
Queenie, I don’t want to talk about what he did so I just say he was very sick, but what do I say if they ask for more details? I don’t want to be rude.—Orphaned son
Dear Son,
You are not obligated to give such people any personal information. Just tell them you would rather not talk about it, and change the subject.
