Older sibling doesn’t want to hurt sister’s feelings

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a college student, and I have moved several hours away from home to attend my dream school in New York City. I feel guilty for moving away from my family, especially since for the majority of my life, it’s just been me, my mom and my little sister. My 10-year-old little sister keeps reminding me how much she misses me, and she tells me she can’t wait for me to come home. Sadly, I may not be able to return home at the holidays or over the summer, depending on my work and internship schedules. How do you think I should navigate this and explain why I may not be able to come home to my little sister, especially when I keep hearing stories from my mom and grandma about how much she cries over me? — Guilty in NYC DEAR GUILTY IN NYC: It was your mother’s job to prepare your sister for your eventual departure. I’m sorry she did not do that. Part of having children and getting them to maturity is making sure they will be OK on their own and that anyone still in the home will be fine when they leave. Clearly, that didn’t happen.