Dear Queenie,

My son is almost 2 and sometimes his grandmother, my mother, likes to hold him and hug him and shower him with kisses. Sometimes he just accepts this, but other times he whines and squirms and says, “No,” but she just goes on doing it.

I like to hug and kiss my son too, but if he wants me to stop, I do.

Queenie, should I talk to my mother about this?—Concerned mother

Dear Mother,

Yes, talk to your mother. Affection is not “affectionate” if it is not welcome. Try to help her find other ways of showing her affection than forcing her grandson to endure unwanted “attacks”. And, as usual, I suggest that, if necessary, professional counselling might help.

Dear Queenie,

My husband works in an office with a lot of women who flirt with good-looking men like my husband and I’ve noticed recently that he has started making himself look good and wearing very nice clothes when he goes to work and sometimes he mentions that he took a walk or had lunch with one of those women.

Queenie, I’m worried about what might happen or is already going on. Am I wrong to be worried?—Worried wife

Dear Worried wife,

The fact that your husband wants to look good at work is nothing to worry about, but if he starts coming home from work later than before or even “partying” after work you should wonder about it.

Talk to him about this, and if the two of you cannot have an open and honest conversation about it I recommend professional marriage counselling.

Dear Queenie,

I’m 15 and my mother has a new boyfriend that she goes out with a lot and sometimes stays over with him and then I stay with my grandmother.

Queenie, I think it’s too soon for her to be doing that. Is there anything I can do?—Neglected teenager

Dear Teenager,

Your mother is not likely to listen to anything you or I tell her, so talk to your grandmother and ask her to talk to her daughter, your mother, about what she is doing and how you feel about it. Your mother (hopefully) will listen to what her mother tells her.

Dear Queenie,

My sister-in-law has some very bigoted ideas that I very much disagree with.

Queenie, how can I protect my children from her ideas and still get along with her?—Father with principles

Dear Father,

Let your sister-in-law know you disagree with her ideas, but do not argue with her about them. And when you are alone with your children explain to them how and why you disagree with their aunt, with a full explanation of what you believe in.