DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I was nine when my parents got divorced. My older sister was 12, and the “baby” of the family, my younger brother was five.

It was a long time coming. They tried counseling, trial separations, and at least two failed reconciliations. By the time they finalized their divorce, they had done a number on all our heads, mostly by trying to get the three of us to side with one of them.

I didn’t take the bait, but my sister and brother were not able to step back as I did after a few years and shut the sh#t out. I would like to say that now we’re all adults, living our own lives and the games my parents played are done, but they are still at it whenever they think they can slap the other one around emotionally.

Their latest games were played at my grandmother’s funeral, for God’s sake. My Gran sided with my mother, even though she was my dad’s mom. She was probably right. My dad did some really f-ed up things while my parents were still “together” and for a long time after.

It was like they both needed to know if my sister, brother, and I were sorrier for him or her in the loss of Gran.

Honest to God, I am sick of this. Don’t you think two people in their fifties should get it together and move on with their lives and not be bringing their kids into their never-ending war? --- SO TIRED OF IT

DEAR SO TIRED OF IT: Unfortunately, some wounds never heal, and it’s probable that those your parents inflicted upon each other fall into that category. If so, I wouldn’t be too optimistic that they’ll change their ways in that respect.

However, I’m glad to hear you’ve been able to stay out of their battles. Eventually your siblings may be able to find their own methods to likewise avoid getting caught up in the ongoing dramas. It could weaken your still-battling parents’ efforts if they no longer have any support for their mind games from their children.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: We had such an unbelievably high offer on our house two days after it went on the market that it was an offer we couldn’t refuse. What it meant is that my wife and I have had to crash at our kids’ house while we wait for our 55+ apartment to get built.

It is only about 15 minutes from our daughter’s and fiancé’s place, so my wife worked it out that we rent the basement apartment they just put in from them for the three-five months we have yet to wait to get into the new place.

On paper the set-up is perfect. In practice it lacks a lot. The driveway is too small for all our cars, so there is a competition over who gets to park in the driveway and who gets stuck finding on-street parking.

The apartment was mostly a DIY project for our daughter’s fiancé and his buddies. At least he has an uncle who is a GC and was able to hook them up with licensed pros for the permit-required items. That means the plumbing and electrical work is all up to specs, but the drywall is a mess in spots and the flooring is uneven.

They say they are going to fix all the “small stuff” before they get “real tenants,” which makes my wife and me feel so special!

Neither my wife nor I want to make waves, but there are some things that need fixing to make the place fully livable. She thinks we should just let it go since we’re out of here sooner rather than later. I think telling them what’s wrong is the right thing to do.

What do you think? We are, after all, paying rent, even if it is below market. --- IT SHOULD BE DONE RIGHT

DEAR IT SHOULD BE DONE RIGHT: I agree with you. The place should be fully livable for any and all tenants, and what you’re seeing as flaws will most likely also be viewed in that light by potential renters, thereby affecting the desirability and competitiveness of the apartment.

In an effort to avoid souring relations with your daughter and future son-in-law, when it comes to discussions about what needs to be fixed, I’d keep the focus on the place’s future earning potential. Getting the place properly finished benefits everyone.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: After our son was born, we moved back to my husband’s hometown. My parents had retired to Florida, and neither my husband nor I wanted to follow them there, but we both felt it was important to raise our children around family.

My husband is something of a local celebrity. He played on the high school’s varsity baseball team, which took the state championship the three years my husband was in their pitching rotation. That success got him a full ride for college, and he spent a couple seasons in the Tiger’s farm system before tearing up his pitching arm.

Besides baseball, my husband also played soccer during the fall seasons, and although he wasn’t as successful at that, he was still a key team member and was named to the all-county team in his senior year.

Now our son is a freshman at his father’s old high school, and our nerdy boy is anything but an athlete. I just know there will be high expectations for him to follow in his dad’s footsteps and that just ain’t happening.

This is a small school with a long memory. When we took the welcome freshmen tour this summer, our son was greeted by a trophy case filled with team photos and trophies starring his dad. He thought it was cool, I thought it was just more proof he’ll be expected to win at some competitions other than academic ones, which given his past performance almost everyone can reasonably expect.

My husband thinks he should at least try out for some sports team, which I don’t agree with. Most of the kids in this town play at least rec level sports, which our son has never, ever expressed an interest in.

Who’s right here, my ex-jock husband, or me? --- MOTHER OF A BRAIN, NOT A JOCK

DEAR MOTHER OF A BRAIN, NOT A JOCK: I believe it’s time you and your husband shelve your assumptions about what your son may or may not want to do during his high school career and let him follow his own lead.

His choices may fool you both.