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Dear Breakup Girl,

I am a newly divorced lady in my thirties with two children under ten. My husband and I separated last year, and I am slowly adjusting to the life of a single mother. I don't regret separating from my husband, but I do sometimes feel lonely, and I wonder if I will ever meet someone with whom I can share my life.

Recently, a teacher at my son's school developed an interest in me. This teacher has taken to calling me up to express love. This teacher is 15 years older than me, has a partner and two children - and is also a woman. I like her, but I do not have any romantic feelings for her. I have told her this, and I have also said that I am happy to be her friend. But she seems to be finding this hard to accept, and has started calling every day, and sometimes coming around unannounced. I am feeling increasingly uneasy, but I don't want to hurt her feelings. Breakup Girl: How can I tell the teacher to back off?

-- Confused

Dear Confused,

Okay, odd. But at least she's cruising a parent, not a kid. Anyway, since she hasn't heeded your earlier No, Thankses, I think it's time to take this out of the realm of the personal. Say that you not only don't you want to hurt her feelings, you don't want to hurt her ... employment. Not that you're about to bust her, necessarily, but you know what? Stuff Always Gets Out. Especially if some of her overtures are made in person. Kids have eyes; towns have ears. Once you've said your piece, let your machine pick up -- and try to make new friends in organizations other than the PTA.

Love,
Breakup Girl

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