DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My husband and I adopted our first dog together, and ever since, our parents have battled about who will take care of her when both my husband and I have to be away overnight or longer.

We usually laugh, but sometimes it gets a little weird and it really makes us wonder what it will be like when we have human kids. We’re to the point where we would almost rather pay for kenneling to keep the peace, but that seems like an insult to our parents, doesn’t it? --- PUP’S MOM

DEAR PUP’S MOM: Using a kennel would certainly send a clear message to the competing factions.

However, this could be the perfect time to begin “training” your parents to play nice and share, so that when human grandkids are in the picture, everyone will have a better idea of how things will play out. I’d just recommend trying to be equitable on your end, making sure everyone gets a fair chance, hopefully minimizing any claims of favoritism.

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.