DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My sister-in-law and I couldn’t have more different tastes. She goes for everything very traditional, and I have more modern tastes.

When I was pregnant, she loaned me some maternity clothes that I wouldn’t wear around the house, much less to work. Her taste runs the same in baby/kids’ clothing, and since her daughter is two years older than our newborn baby girl, she was so excited to be able to pass along some of what I consider the most hideous outfits, which I would definitely not put our daughter in.

I appreciate her generosity in giving me the clothes, but how do I tell her I really don’t want them? --- NOT THE TRADITIONAL TYPE

DEAR NOT THE TRADITIONAL TYPE: You could tell her politely, “Thanks, but no thanks,” and leave it at that. Or, you could do what parents through the ages have done — keep one or two of the pieces that are the least outside your style and have your daughter dressed in them occasionally, but not all the time, when your sister-in-law is around. This way you’ll be less likely to offend, and also give her an idea of how you prefer to dress your baby.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My roommate has been seeing this girl who used to be in a band and who knows the words to about a gazillion songs, all of which she sings either out loud or under her breath while she’s doing stuff around the house. It’s like she can’t be quiet, and the only good thing is she has a pretty decent voice.

I do not want to make a big deal out of this, but I also do not want to have to invest in noise-cancelling earbuds. Do I say something or not? --- TOO MANY NOTES

DEAR TOO MANY NOTES: It appears you’ve come up with the politest solution of using earbuds/headphones. When your roommate’s girlfriend is around, you can either enjoy the sounds of silence or some of your own favorite tunes if the ones she’s chosen aren’t to your taste.

You could mention your annoyance to your roommate, in passing, but I doubt you want to create the “her or me” dynamic that could result from your pointing out what you consider a flaw in his girlfriend.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My son announced he was invited to a Halloween party, which he fully intends to attend. I told him he is nuts for taking such a big chance, especially since I know the guy throwing the party, and I can guarantee it will be an overcrowded mess. My son assures me he’ll be careful, but I have already told him I do not want him around his mother and me for at least two weeks after he has been in what I consider a very risky environment. Am I overreacting? --- DON’T LIKE PARTY PLANS

DEAR DON’T LIKE PARTY PLANS: I’m with you in that it’s a bad idea to be in crowds these days, even if all reasonable precautions are taken. But the young, as ever, believe themselves invulnerable.

You’ve done your part to warn your son and to let him know what his actions will lead to as far as you and his mother are concerned. If he’s a legal adult and on his own, there’s little more you can do.

If he’s still living at home, you’ll have to consider how you can keep him safely apart from his mom and yourself in the same house. It can be done. I’ve known of other families who’ve managed to make voluntary in-home quarantines work.