Dear Queenie,

There is a boy in my son’s class at school that he likes to play with that likes to roughhouse and play-fight with other children and uses foul language. I suppose he talks like that and behaves like that because that is what he sees and hears at home, but I don’t want my son to pick up such habits.

Queenie, should I forbid my son to play with this boy?—Worried mother

Dear Mother,

You cannot keep your son away from this boy at school, but I suggest you talk to the school authorities about the boy’s behaviour and vocabulary.

Outside of school, do not let your son go to this boy’s home to play, and if his parents ask why, tell them what you object to. However, you might let the boy play at your house after explaining to him clearly what you consider unacceptable and insisting that he abide by your rules when he is in your home. It might be good for him to learn how people outside his family do and do not behave and talk.

Dear Queenie,

I’m married with a young son, but I feel more like a single mother with 2 children.

My husband got his Bachelor’s degree from a good university, but he has never had a decent job and hasn’t worked at all for the last few years. He doesn’t help around the house or look after our son when school is out and I am still at work, but he is always asking me for money to spend on drinks and lottery tickets which he never wins or to give to his parents who actually make more money than I do.

I would get a divorce, but I worry what would happen to him with no place to live.

Queenie, what is your advice?—Fed-up wife

Dear Wife,

Get the divorce! Your husband is setting a terrible example for your son and you do not want the boy to grow up thinking this is how men are supposed to act.

Hubby can always go to live with his parents if they will have him. If they will not he might just be forced to grow up and act like an adult, in which case you could consider getting back together with him if you are so inclined.

Dear Queenie,

My wife has a lot of friends of both sexes and I know some of them but not all of them. I have never objected to her going out and doing things with her various friends even though I am not much for that kind of socializing, because our marriage is good and I trust her completely.

The problem is this: There’s a new woman I met at work that has the same schedule as me and sometimes we go out for lunch together or I give her a lift home after work. When my wife found out about it she got mad and said if I love her I shouldn’t be doing this.

Queenie, do you agree with her or is she being totally unreasonable?—Tit for Tat

Dear Tat,

Apparently your wife does not trust you as much as you trust her – or is there something in your attitude toward this new colleague that makes your wife uncomfortable? If the latter is the case your wife is not being totally unreasonable.

I suggest you confine your socialising with your colleague to the workplace and outside of work only with other colleagues (or even your wife) present. And you might want to go out and do things with your wife (and her friends) more often.

Dear Queenie,

My children are all grown up and out on their own and I hardly ever hear from them, and their father is long gone. I’m not able to work and I don’t have any close friends and I get so lonely!

Queenie, what can I do?—Lonely mother

Dear Mother,

You cannot make your children the centre of your life forever. Would you be able to work part-time? Or do volunteer work or join a service club or a gym or a social group? Or you could sign up for a few classes at your community centre or the university.

Even if it not exactly what you would like, you are almost certain to make some social contacts – even some new friends – that will ease your loneliness.