Great question! Yes, it is completely okay to be friends with people of a different gender.
Sometimes people can make it feel like it isn’t okay, weird or joke that you must have a crush on each other just because you’re close, but friendships do not have to be romantic. You can just enjoy hanging out, laughing, gaming, talking, or being good mates.
What matters most in a friendship is feeling respected, safe, included and able to be yourself — not someone’s gender.
Eating is how our bodies get the fuel they need to grow, think, move, and stay healthy. When we eat food, we chew it and swallow it so our body can break it down and use the nutrients for energy.
For most people, eating regularly throughout the day helps the body and brain work properly. Different people eat different kinds of food depending on their culture, family, and what foods their body can handle — and that’s all part of normal life.
If eating feels confusing, stressful, or difficult for you, you don’t have to deal with that alone. Talking to a trusted adult, school counsellor, parent, carer, or a doctor can really help. You can also contact Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800). You deserve to feel safe and supported when it comes to food and your body.
It makes total sense that you want to express yourself through your hair. Trying new styles is a big part of figuring out who you are — and it’s okay if that doesn’t line up with what other people expect. Wanting short hair doesn’t mean anything’s “wrong” with you. It just means you’re being true to yourself.
If your mum reacted strongly, she might’ve just been caught off guard, not angry at you.
Give it a bit of time, then try having a calm convo about what this change means to you. You don’t need to convince her, just share where you're coming from. As for other people – you don’t owe anyone a big explanation. A simple “I felt like trying something new” is more than enough. And if you need someone to talk to, a teacher, school support person, or Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) is always there.
First off — trying to understand your brain better is seriously brave. And way more common than people realise.
Now, those online ADHD quizzes? Yeah, they can feel weirdly accurate — like, “Cool, diagnosed myself in five minutes. Slay.” But ADHD doesn’t look the same for everyone — especially for girls. So, if the quiz screamed YES but you don’t relate to everything your ADHD friends say? That actually makes sense.
If you want proper answers, the next step is seeing a doctor or psychologist for an assessment. At 12, that usually means your parent or carer will need to be involved — but that doesn’t mean you have to wait for them to totally get it before getting support.
Try talking to someone at school — like your guidance officer, youth health nurse, or a teacher you trust. They can help you figure out how to bring it up at home, or how to start getting the help you need. And if you want to talk it through with someone outside of school or home, you can reach out to Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) or Headspace Cairns — they’re kind, confidential, and really good at listening.
Wanting help doesn’t make you dramatic or attention-seeking — it means you’ve noticed things are feeling hard and you’re doing something about it. That’s powerful.
