DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I don’t want to be mean, but there is a little boy in our neighborhood, probably 8 or 9, who is driving me crazy. He is always wandering around, teasing the dogs in their backyards, stuffing the street-side mailboxes with junk he finds in the woods behind the houses, and a whole lot of other stupid and annoying things. His parents both work long hours, so I guess he is on his own a lot, and I feel kind of sorry for him, but I also do not like the stuff he is doing. Do I speak to his parents, or just learn to put up with it? --- FRUSTRATED NEIGHBOR

DEAR FRUSTRATED NEIGHBOR: Beyond the dumb pranks he’s pulling, you say this boy finds things in the woods behind the houses, which frankly, makes me worry for his safety, especially if he’s going there alone.

While many parents don’t or won’t believe their kids are doing something wrong, it may be time to approach his folks ─ ideally without his seeing it happen ─ and let them know he’s been going into the woods. That approach might come off more as a concerned neighbor than as a whiny one.

It’s far from a guarantee that his pranks will cease, but it might raise a red flag for his parents before his adventures become misadventures.

DEAR READERS: Most of us seem to go through the majority of November and December rushing around, overspending, overstressing, and overdoing. My own experience is that just when I’m ready to relax and enjoy the holidays, they’re all over.

Please take time this holiday season, no matter what your personal beliefs and traditions, to savor the moments you get to have with those you most love ─ and even with those you just kind-of like.

We get eight days of Hanukkah, seven days of Kwanzaa, and 12 days of Christmas (with the Epiphany bonus). Take advantage of these precious days, and if you’re in a good place, please reach out to someone who may be hurting. Let them know they’re not alone. And, if you yourself are in a bad place, believe there are people who care for and about you, and that you’ve got plenty to offer now and in the future.

To all my readers and commenters, best wishes for a good Christmas. --- ASK SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Whenever my mom comes to visit my apartment, she makes jokes about my being Felix to my roommate’s Oscar. The problem is, I no longer find the joke funny. My roommate is a sweetheart, but he just can’t keep his mess to himself. This is beyond ignoring all the coasters I put out and hints I drop about cleaning up after himself. It’s getting Board of Health time, you know what I mean? What do I do to wake this boy up? --- OK, SO I AM A FELIX

DEAR OK: It’s time you lay down the law. Either he cleans up after himself or he’s got to get someone in to do his share of the housework. If you start taking care of his messes, you’ll only enable him and possibly begin to resent him ─ not to mention he needs to be held responsible for his part in keeping your home livable for you both.