DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: In your overall opinion, if a small gift and card is mailed to someone, what is the acceptable amount of time to acknowledge the gift?

I have just one sibling, a brother. We get along fine. He’s a very busy person, but I think he can reply sooner than what he thinks. --- WAITING FOR A THANK YOU

DEAR WAITING FOR A THANK YOU: That your brother is busy is not an excuse for his failing to acknowledge your gifts in a timely fashion. It doesn’t take long to shoot someone an email or text, or simply pick up the phone and call ─ at the least.

If you don’t hear from him within a couple weeks of when you think he should have received your gift, I see nothing wrong with asking point blank if the gift has made it to him. That could trigger his responding with not only a confirmation, but thanks.

Also, make sure you’re setting the example of reaching out to him when you receive something he sends you.

DEAR READERS: In keeping with a popular topic of every New Year, I wanted to turn the tables and ask my readers a question.

Do you have any Year’s resolutions?

Remember to keep it clean, and please be polite. There are other mothers reading this column, and one of them might be yours! --- HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ASEM

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I put a lot of time and effort into choosing and purchasing gifts for my son and daughter and their spouses. Next thing I know, at least half of the gifts have been either exchanged or returned and all my effort is for nothing. For all I know, they’ve already begun getting rid of this Christmas’ gifts. Give me one good reason not to be hurt. --- EXCHANGED GIVER

DEAR EXCHANGED GIVER: No need to feel hurt. Gift-giving is often a hit-or-miss proposition.

In the future, although many people feel they’re impersonal, I say go with cash or gift cards. They’re the one-size-fits-all option that only gets exchanged for something the receiver really wants.