DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I was only dating my new wife for a short time before we got married. Her sister and her husband were, I think, high school sweethearts, so they were together for nearly five years when they got married. They call my mother-in-law and father-in-law “Mom” and “Dad,” but I feel weird because while we were dating, they always had me call them by their first names.

It upset my wife when I told her I was kind of weirded out by calling them Mom and Dad, since that’s what I call my parents, and as much as I like my in-laws, they’re not my parents.

Oddly enough, I have no problem calling my wife’s grandmother “Gran” like my wife and her family do, but with her parent’s it’s a different story.

Is there anything wrong with my continuing to call them by their first names? --- NEW SON-IN-LAW

DEAR NEW SON-IN-LAW: You need to not only share your reservations with your wife, but also bring them up to your new in-laws. They might be fine with you continuing to call them by their given names, or perhaps some other parental nomenclature could be settled on if they’re not.

Once you and your in-laws clear the air, it should set your wife’s mind at ease as well.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My twelve-year-old daughter is like so many kids these days who just “talk” with “friends” on social media, usually for the whole time she’s home, in the car with me, or at her dad’s place for a visit. She almost never physically hangs out with anybody, and it really bothers me.

I know she’s “typical,” but I need to know how to get her into the real world, with real people, doing real things. --- FRUSTRATED MOM

DEAR FRUSTRATED MOM: Start with limiting the time your daughter spends on-line or on her phone. Make mealtimes “no tech” times. Set aside an evening or weekend afternoon to do something with her that involves personal interaction, like shopping, game night, or even watching a movie together, on a screen bigger than a cell phone in a venue larger than her room.

Also consider teaming up with the parents of some of the kids your daughter’s friends with in the real world to provide opportunities for the them to go old school and do something together, even if it’s just hanging out in someone’s home ─ with all their electronic devices stowed away for an hour or two.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: When my partner and I started going together, we were both into LARPing (live action role playing), although she was always more into it than I was. Now, it’s all she does every weekend and for the past two vacations we’ve had.

This year I want to do a road trip to visit some friends we both have from college, but she just wants to follow the same LARPing festivals we’ve done for, like, forever.

I love her, but I also want a life outside of just one interest. Should I just take my own vacation, or do I pressure her to join me, if for no other reason than to break the spell? --- LEFT IN THE LARPING DUST

DEAR LEFT IN THE LARPING DUST: Any hobby can turn into an obsession, and if you think that’s where your partner’s interests are heading, you might want to openly let her know your concerns, if you haven’t already discussed it with her.

It sounds like it may be time for your partner to do a little compromising, especially if the LARPing she’s into is year-round and you’re just trying to get in a vacation that offers a change of scene and some time with friends. If she pushes back, then by all means make your own plans ─ and follow through with them.