How to Dich a Friend Without Getting in Trouble

Friends are important assets in our lives and often serve many roles including confidant and companion. Maintaining peace within a friendship requires honesty and the ability to consider your friend's feelings. Although being ditched is not a desirable situation for a friend to experience, properly assessing the situation and explaining yourself will work to keep you from getting in trouble with your friend.

Instructions

1. Establish guidelines for this behavior. There may be times when it becomes necessary to ditch a friend. Talk about these situations in detail with your friend to help avoid hard feelings if it happens. For example, it can be agreed that having the opportunity to spend unexpected time with a crush is an acceptable reason for ditching.

2. Give a good excuse. Can Sarah really hold it against you if you ditched her to rush home for a household emergency? Although you don't have to give away all of your personal details, it is important to let your friend know the reason was not a hasty decision.

3. Refrain from making ditching your friend a habit. No one likes to have their plans ruined every Friday night. Repeatedly ditching your friend may leave you looking for a replacement friend. Show consideration for your friend's feelings and make time for him whenever possible.

4. Avoid mutual hangouts. Your friend will not be happy to bump into you at the arcade after being ditched. This applies even when you informed your friend of the schedule change in advance.

5. Apologize for ditching your friend. Coordinate a makeup date to show concern for your friend's feelings. Even if you followed all the established rules, your friend may still be stinging from being ditched. Make sure the rescheduled events are worth your friend's time. For example, you can't replace a trip to Disney World with an hour of playing hangman.

6. Apologize for ditching your friend.

Tips & Warnings

• Always make sure your friend has a safe ride home.

• Never leave your friend alone in an uncomfortable environment or situation.