Dear Queenie,

  I’ve been at college in the United States this year but now I have to go home because of this crisis until after the summer holidays. I love the way things are in the US and I’m not looking forward to being at  home on a small island. There are so many things to do here that I’ll miss and all my friends also have gone abroad to study.

  Queenie, how can I get used to being at home again?—Not homesick  

Dear Not homesick,

  Keep reminding yourself how lucky you are to have had the chance to live abroad for a while, and that your home island is a place people in the USA pay thousands of dollars just to visit for a few days.

  Once this crisis is over you will be busy studying again (maybe even during the crisis you can keep busy by studying online if you can arrange it with your US school) and there will be a lot else to do at home once things open up again. It will help if you can take a positive attitude toward all that is happening to you (crisis aside).

Dear Queenie,

  I don’t have any restrictions on my computer because I live alone and I don’t have any children living with me. I have warned my adult children about this so that they can watch over the children if the kids want to do something on the computer.

  The other day some friends brought their teenage daughter with them when they came to visit me and I let her use the computer while we were visiting. She got into a chat room with a man and when her parents saw what was happening they got mad at me for what she was doing.

  Queenie, was it up to me to watch over their daughter?—Computer geek

Dear Geek,

  No. It was up to the parents to monitor what their child was doing, and they should have been angry at her, but apparently they preferred to take out their anger on you.

  However, you should have warned them that your computer has no restrictions before you let her use it.

Dear Queenie,

  My boyfriend and I have been together for about a year. He and his ex-wife have 2 children that I love like they were my own and I thought they liked me too, but I found out they have been telling their mother all kind of things about me that are not true.

  My boyfriend and his ex don’t get along with each other and I am one of the things they fight about because of what the kids say about me.

  Queenie, is there anything I can do about this?—Worried girlfriend

Dear Girlfriend,

  The children may think their parents will get back together if their father breaks up with you, or they may be telling their mother what they think she wants to hear about you.

  There is not much, if anything, you can do about this. Your boyfriend, as the children’s father, will have to handle the problem, both with the children and with his ex-wife.

Dear Queenie,

  I have a cousin who lies about all the things he has done and how good he is at doing them. Mostly I keep quiet and don’t say anything, even when I know for a fact that he is lying or at least exaggerating, but I worry that my aunt and uncle might take his advice about their finances or let him fix their car, when I know these are some of the things he lies about.

  Queenie, should I warn them about things like that?—Worried nephew

Dear Nephew,

  Yes, but do so privately, when no one else is around to hear.

  Tell them you are speaking to them about it because you are worried about the harm your cousin might cause. Then suggest that if he gives them any advice they should consult with a professional in the field (a financial advisor or attorney, for example) and if their car needs work they should take it to a professional mechanic.

  Then all you can do is hope they take your advice.