DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have made some really good friends at the dog park where I take my two labs to get some exercise.

Between a few of us, we put together a little dog sitting co-op. I have used it a couple of times. As I am home most of the year, and I work from home, I seem to get tapped the most of any of us in the group to watch my friends’ dogs.

I actually don’t mind most of the time. I have a nice big fenced-in backyard and my dogs and the ones that I watch while their parents are on vacation or traveling for family events or work get along perfectly.

Lately, though, ever since people started traveling normally again, it seems like I have at least one canine boarder just about every week booked through the summer. That limits my own ability to schedule travel for myself.

I want to start being more selective about when I sit for friends’ dogs, but I keep thinking that if I turn down anyone of my friends, the same will happen to me when I am in need of a dog sitter.

Am I worrying for nothing, or do you think my friends will hold it against me if I don’t cover all their dog sitting needs? --- NEED A DOG SITTING BREAK

DEAR NEED A DOG SITTING BREAK: It’s not unreasonable to cut yourself a little slack and make enough time for your own plans.

If you’re doing more than your fair share in sitting your friends’ pets when they travel, then it’s likely your friends take it for granted you’re always available.

The longer you wait to initiate some limits, the harder it will be for you to do so when you need to.

Maybe you could start by blocking out at least one week a month when you let everyone know you’re not available to do any dog sitting.

You’ll have to be consistent and stick to your stated schedule with everyone. That might be a good way to avoid what you fear in offending your friends, still do your part in the co-op, and carve out time for yourself.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: After my in-laws retired, they promised to visit each of their four kids and their families once a year, and hoped everyone would head their way for at least one of the major holidays.

That was six years ago, and so far they only came to our house the first two years, but they go to all the other of my husband’s siblings at least the promised once a year since they started being able to travel.

We live no further than any of the other siblings, and as a matter of fact, we have made it a point to get to their house at least twice a year, once during the kids’ summer break and again during the holidays. My husband goes even more often.

Neither my husband nor I have ever had an argument or even angry words with either of my in-laws since even in our earliest days together. It hurts us that they will make a 6-10 hour drive to see one of my husband’s siblings and their family, but seem to not want to do the less than four hours it would take them to get here.

My husband and I are talking about not bringing the kids to see them before school starts up again. We are always made to feel welcome, but nobody else but one of my sisters-in-law bothers to visit them more than the requested holiday visit. It makes us feel less valued than the other siblings, and my husband has told me it bothers him, which translates to hurts him, although he would never say that.

Would you continue to make the extra effort for family members who seem to not be all that interested in making any in return? --- THE LESS VISITED ONES

DEAR THE LESS VISITED ONES: Perhaps because you bring your family to see your in-laws during the school summer breaks, they count that as their annual visit, relieving them of having to make the trip to your house, while keeping you and your husband’s branch within the promised visit circuit.

Rather than let resentment simmer, you could speak with your in-laws about how you’re feeling. They may be surprised to find out you believe yourselves slighted.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I understood when my sister-in-law started dating and found a new man less than two years after my brother passed. It hurt, but I didn’t blame her. She is only in her early 50s and has always been a very social type.

She and her new husband decided to sell both their houses and move into a condo. It is a two-bedroom with a small den, which they use as a home office.

The other bedroom is a guest room, and they said they have to keep it open for when his mother comes up from Florida from October to March.

They said flat out there is no room for my niece and nephew to stay, even on their school breaks. Both of them are still in college and found out during their current summer break that most of their stuff was put in storage and that they could only stay at their mom’s and stepfather’s condo this one time this summer until they head back to school.

They are currently forced to share the guest room, which means one has the bed and one has a camp cot, which they had to buy themselves, to sleep on.

Their stepfather told them they are old enough to be making their way in the world. That he and their mom would continue to pay their tuition and student apartment rental, but that would be it.

And when they graduate (my nephew after this year and my niece after the next), they will be expected to not return to stay with him and their mother, as there will be no room for them in the condo.

He also “generously” said that he and their mom would continue to cover the cost of the storage unit with all their stuff in it until two months after my nephew graduates. After that, they will be expected to pay their own way on that too, and my nephew will be on his own for finding a place to stay.

So starting this upcoming semester, my niece and nephew know they are basically not welcome in their mother’s home besides stopping by for visits. No holiday or school break stays, no help after graduating.

From what my nephew and niece have told me, their stepfather is all about “tough love,” but to me it seems more like he’s just a cheap bas###d who has no use for his new wife’s family — not even her own kids.

What kind of a man drives away his wife’s own kids?

I have let the kids know they are welcome in my house anytime, but still! --- WHAT A JERK

DEAR WHAT A JERK: As poorly as the husband is coming off, I have to question where your former sister-in-law is in all this.

While there’s much to be said about giving young people a push towards independence and self-reliance, there are also many circumstances where some allowances should or could be made. Offering space in your home for your own children to visit seems to me to be one of them.

I’m glad for your niece’s and nephew’s sake that you’re willing to open your home to them, but I can’t help but feel much of the fault for their current predicament lies with their mother, and not just their stepfather.

Either she agrees wholeheartedly with his edicts, or she’s not able or willing to stand up to him, and that’s a big red flag to me.