DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Last September my sister asked if I could help her out with her eBay business until just after Christmas. It has been growing nicely for her, and she correctly anticipated a very successful and busy holiday ordering season.

She makes customized baby clothes and so that she could concentrate on the creative side, she asked if I could handle the shipping and billing part of the business, for which she pays me by the hour.

Her work is outstanding, and her business is growing at an amazing rate, which I really admire.

The thing is, I want to get back to focusing on my own things, including planning my fall wedding and trying to establish an in-home daycare. I only have to finish two certifications and I’ll have what I need to start getting that off the ground. But it isn’t easy because of the time I’m putting in with my sister’s business after I finish my own workday.

I know she is counting on me to continue helping her, but I don’t want to start resenting her for holding me back from what I need to do, which I think I am starting to do.

How do I get out of this situation without hurting my sister, not to mention having my mom get on me for not sticking to working for her? --- NEED TO GET BACK TO MY OWN STUFF

DEAR NEED TO GET BACK TO MY OWN STUFF: In addition to admiring your sister’s accomplishments, you need to consider the importance of all you’ve got going on in your own life.

If she’s already paying you to help her out, then it’s probably time your sister starts looking to hire someone else to free you up to get on with your obligations and plans.

Your being her right hand helper has most likely meant a lot to her, but if her business continues to thrive, it isn’t unreasonable for your sister — and your mother — to understand and accept that with growth things will necessarily change.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Everyone has the right to some happiness, but I am having trouble getting past the shenanigans that regularly go on in the assisted living center where I work.

I am in the dietary department and one of my jobs is to deliver trays to residents who opt not to go to the dining room for all their meals.

Coworkers warned me to be on the lookout and be ready to see some crazy sh#t, but the first time I turned a corner and saw two people in at least their 80s going at it in a conference room where someone left the blinds open, I about dropped the two trays I was carrying and seriously wanted to wash my eyeballs!

Since that afternoon I’ve had several other “encounters” as my supervisor calls them. He keeps telling me that just because people are old, they still like what he calls “companionship.”

I find it gross and think people should know better at their age. These aren’t people in the memory care area, so they know what they’re doing.

Don’t you think people their age should know better and act better? --- DON’T LOOK NOW

DEAR DON’T LOOK NOW: I certainly agree adults of any age ought to keep their most private activities private.

However, my question to you is do you only find the open displays distasteful, or are you of the belief older adults shouldn’t be engaging in “shenanigans” at all?

Please bear in mind what your supervisor said, and know that the need for love, affection, and companionship never ages out.

A little discretion would certainly help, but perhaps a touch of the daredevil is also built into some people’s DNA.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have only been at my job since I graduated with my master’s last spring.

I started as a lab tech, with the understanding that when there was an opening on the research team I would be moved into it. That was more than fine with because what we are working on here dovetails almost perfectly with my degree field, making the opportunity well worth the fairly small wait.

My move up happened in early December, and while I am enjoying the work I’m doing and feel I am fitting well into the team, two of the techs I used to work with have been letting me know, like constantly, they think I believe I am hotsh#t since I made the move up, which could not be less true.

I work with scientists, all of them fairly brilliant, but not very tuned into the world around them. They are oblivious to the crap treatment and attitude I am getting from the two techs.

Do you think it is worth it to bring up what has been going on with my immediate supervisor, or should I let it go and hope the nasty treatment will fizzle out? --- DON’T DESERVE IT

DEAR DON’T DESERVE IT: While I don’t know the specifics of life in a research laboratory, I would think the people politics are the same as you’d find in just about any kind of workplace.

My guess is the techs giving you trouble are jealous of your promotion. Hopefully they’ll get over it sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, unless their behavior is posing a danger or disrupting the smooth operation of the lab, there’s probably little to be gained by bringing it up to your supervisor at this point. It may potentially put you in the light of being on the thin-skinned side or prone to spot offensive behavior where others on the team don’t.