DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I am engaged to a really good guy who happens to be a dentist. What is a little funny and a lot frustrating is that when something is bothering him, I am the one who has to pull teeth to get anything out of him.

My mom says my dad is always the same way. Why is it so hard for guys to just come out with it? --- TEETH PULLING FIANCÉE

DEAR TEETH-PULLING: I’d like to say it gets easier, but that might be a lie.

Your complaint probably dates back to Adam and Eve, and has been voiced by most of the women I know at one time or another. Whether it’s genetics, training, or a little bit of both, it’s the way many men are. In time you may learn ways to break down the resistance, but being patient and mildly persistent will let him know you’re ready to listen when he’s ready to talk.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I work at a small family-owned company that manufactures and sells custom window treatments. My first job here was as a receptionist. A few weeks ago I was promoted into sales. The potential of the move was why I took the job in the first place.

While I really like the job, my boss, who is the owner’s youngest son, treats me like I’m still the receptionist. He talks down to me and acts as if I’m incapable of learning anything new. If I didn’t hear from the other salespeople that I’m doing really well and have picked up on the job faster than most people they’ve helped train, I’d begin doubting myself.

I don’t know how to convince my boss he’s wrong about me, and I’m a little intimidated because he’s the owner’s son.

How do I manage to get him to respect me without jeopardizing my job? --- MOVING UP

DEAR MOVING UP: Some people are slow to keep up with changes, and it sounds like your boss is one of them. The best way you can prove yourself is to continue doing your job and doing it well.

It might not hurt if your more established coworkers put in a good word for you, either directly, or by just happening to praise you within your boss’s earshot.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: When our son graduated from high school last year, he decided to take a year off from school, earn some money, and then go on to college. He had decent grades throughout high school and earned credits for three AP classes.

We told him we would help him out with his expenses when he heads to college this fall, but he would have to come up with most of the funding himself, through savings and loans. We also asked he not chose a school too far away that would involve plane fare to get to and from, as that would be an additional expense. He has chosen a very common major that is offered at most schools, so he had a large choice of colleges within driving distance to apply to.

Well, he decided to go to school on the West Coast. We live in Massachusetts. He tells us he wants to experience life in another part of the country and assures us he can afford it. We told him since he picked a school so far away, against our wishes, we won’t help him like we said we would. Why should we? --- EAST COAST PARENTS

DEAR EAST COAST PARENTS: I get your disappointment. It isn’t easy having your kids so far from home. But I also think you should honor your original offer of support to the extent you would have provided if he’d chosen to stay closer to home. Just be sure you make the limits of your contributions clear. Your son made his choice. Now it’s his job to make it work.