DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have been at quite a few weddings where I did not particularly love how revealing the bride’s gown was. I know a few of them had extra cover-ups they wore during the Mass and took off for the reception.

My granddaughter just sent me a photo of her in the gown she has chosen for her wedding. She is so happy and excited about it, but I think it makes her look like Madonna on tour in the 1980s. It’s a shear beaded sheath, which goes to below her knees and shows her thong loud and clear.

It’s a good thing they opted for not having the ceremony at out parish church, but I can still imagine the look on Fr. _____’s face when he sees her come down the venue’s isle.

My granddaughter is a beautiful girl with a beautiful figure. If I looked that good, I’d show it all off too, just not on my wedding day.

Her mother doesn’t love it either, but says it’s her daughter’s day. So what are you going to do? --- WHERE’S THE DRESS?

DEAR WHERE’S THE DRESS?: It’s a to each their own world when it comes to weddings. Your note makes me think of the wedding portraits from the days of big hair, big dresses, and big hats, which preceded and followed several other now memorable bridal styles.

Someday well in the future your granddaughter may look at pictures from her wedding and second-guess the wisdom of her choice, or perhaps not.

For now, your daughter’s correct in saying it’s the bride’s day, and she’s entitled to have it her way.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: At the start of this summer my wife and I were working with our seven-year-old son on getting off the training wheels and learning how to ride on two wheels.

On the second day of his being on two wheels, he crashed into our mailbox. He was only a little banged up and the mailbox was not damaged, but it put him off riding altogether.

My wife said we need to let him get confident again by putting the training wheels back on. I say he needs to get used to riding with two wheels and not backslide.

Who is right here? --- TWO WHEELS ARE BETTER

DEAR TWO WHEELS ARE BETTER: It seems the current conventional wisdom is that the use of training wheels isn’t always the way to go. The presence of the extra wheels prevent a new rider learning how to naturally balance themself.

So while your wife may have a point in giving your son a chance to rebuild his self-confidence, my guess is he’ll ultimately feel a lot better about mastering two wheels than he will if he regresses to four.

Now I’ll beat one of my pet drums.

Please make sure whenever your son is on wheels (other than your car), he’s also wearing a helmet.

Spills happen even for the most experienced riders, and the importance of head protection can’t be overstated.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have been in the Maintenance Stage of my addiction recovery program for almost three years. It was a hard road for me and my family, and I am working hard to stay clean and never again abuse my family or myself.

My mom and dad have been great. Same for my older sister and her husband. I have an uncle, though, who I was always close to all the time I was growing up and right up until the time I was lying to and stealing from my family and friends to first cover up and then support my addiction.

He came one time to see me when I was in my third rehab. He barely talked to me and left after only a few minutes. Since then he avoids me if we run into each other at someone in the family’s house or out in public.

It hurts like hell that he won’t accept that I am clean, working hard to stay that way, and could really use his forgiveness and support.

What more can I do to have him accept me back into his life, or at least to allow me to make peace with him? --- MISSING MY UNCLE

DEAR MISSING MY UNCLE: This is a topic best tackled within your recovery program. However, my guess is that your uncle is still dealing with any pain and disappointment he started feeling because of your addiction, and I’m not sure there’s a way to force him to accept you back into his life.

By staying your course of remaining drug-free, perhaps he’ll be willing to meet you halfway at some point in the future, but that’s an outcome that’ll only come with time and patience.

You’ve already made it to the three year mark, and that’s no small achievement.