DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife of 12 years has developed a habit that is wearing on my nerves. If I ask if she would like a late-evening snack of ice cream, she asked if we have any. My response of "If we did not have the ice cream, I would not have asked" draws a look of displeasure. When we travel and I ask if she would like to stop for a burger or a sit-down meal at a nicer restaurant, she does not respond with her choice but replies, "Yes, that would be OK." If I see her looking through a closet or cabinet and ask what she is looking for, her answer is "something." What is the problem with her inability to provide a simple and direct answer to my questions? -- Irritated in the South, Jackson, Miss.

DEAR IRRITATED IN THE SOUTH: There is a chance that your wife is suffering from memory loss. She could potentially be in the early stages of dementia. Among the common signs of dementia are difficulty completing simple tasks at home, confusion with time or space and difficulty in planning or solving problems.

Instead of getting angry and frustrated with your wife, take her to the doctor. Go with her and share with the doctor some of your concerns. Ask the doctor to conduct blood tests and neurological tests to discover the status of your wife's mental and physical health. For more information on dementia, visit webmd.com/alzheimers/tc/dementia-symptoms.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I thought your advice to the person taking the public speaking class who was looking for ways to overcome his or her shyness was great -- the most important thing to do is to practice. I took a public speaking class in high school. The first time I had to speak in front of the class -- doing no more than telling about myself -- I was beside myself with nerves. But I was stuck for a semester, so I had to find a way to deal with it. Practicing my speeches was invaluable. I practiced in front of the mirror, into a tape recorder and for my family. I learned to make eye contact and always had a detailed outline in front of me that I could glance at when necessary. I not only overcame my nerves and shyness, but I went on to major in speech communication in college. I now work as a financial consultant. It all started with my first public speaking class.

I would like to add that the speaker should always remember he is the only one who knows what he intended to say. If the speaker makes a mistake, no one is the wiser. -- Communication Lover, Washington, D.C.

DEAR COMMUNICATION LOVER: Thank you so much for sharing your experience. You are proof of what I profess all the time, that with practice we all can improve ourselves and even overcome our biggest challenges. What is most amazing is that moment when you realize that you have neutralized a fear and mastered what once was a deficit. It is possible with confidence and practice.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I really want to have a child, but my doctor told me that soon I will be in the danger zone, agewise. I am not in a relationship right now. My doctor says I need to find someone who will help me to have a child -- or else. I am very active in my church, and I know that my pastor will not look favorably on me if I have a child without being married. It goes against my religious beliefs. What can I do? -- Pleasing in Your Sight, Lake Charles, La.

DEAR PLEASING: Schedule a meeting with your pastor to talk about your situation. Find out what your church's stance is about a sperm donor. There may be some leeway in using medical technology because you will not have violated the vow to not have sex before marriage. Find out.

Although it's clear that you want to give birth to a child, you do have the option of adopting. In that way you can remain true to your religious convictions and still have the privilege of shepherding a child through the world.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My macroeconomics teacher is an intelligent woman who knows a lot about the economy and clearly has a passion for it, which I respect. However, she is teaching a one-sided position only, and all our outside readings are opinionated articles that are left-leaning. Writing about the articles makes me feel like I am being brainwashed into believing different opinions than my own. My teacher does not even provide an alternative or other argument to these topics, which is frustrating. I did my own research after I had turned in my paper, and I want to address this with her. What should I do? -- Standing My Ground, New York City

DEAR STANDING MY GROUND: The ideal educational experience is a well-rounded one where students are presented with wisdom from different points of view by an objective teacher. I'm sorry that your teacher did not follow that protocol.

I recommend that you send a formal note to your teacher describing your disappointment that you were not exposed to a range of thinking on the topics that were being taught. You can explain that you subsequently read other perspectives and wished you had had the opportunity to consider all points of view in class. I would also send a note to the department head and/or guidance counselor with the intention of learning about curriculum protocol. It would be helpful for you to know if it's standard for your school to allow teachers to teach one perspective or if it is more common for them to be objective instructors.

In the future, if you have questions about what any of your instructors is teaching you, speak up and schedule an appointment to discuss your questions or concerns or send an email. Typically, educators appreciate interacting with their students.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been married for about a year and a half, and my husband and I are having problems regarding finances. I make more money -- at least $100,000 more -- than my husband, and I think it bothers him a little. I am an orthopedic surgeon, and he is a general practitioner. While we were dating, it never seemed to bother him as much. Now he is grumpy and angry all the time, and I don't know what to do. It is not my fault that I happen to make more; it is just how it happens to work out. What do I do? -- Off-Balance, Atlanta

DEAR OFF-BALANCE: Do you and your husband have a family budget? Perhaps if you create a budget that includes your vision for your future, you can shift the focus from who is bringing in what amount to what your combined resources can be used to create together.

Talk about your hopes and dreams and strategize about how to make them manifest. Decide how much money will go into what account in order to build toward a particular goal. Perhaps you can both put the same amount into that pot so you are contributing evenly.

Over time, many couples' incomes change. Today you are the principal breadwinner. That may not be the case in the future. If you look at your life as a whole, you stand a greater chance of creating harmony in your marriage.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have found that raising children is very difficult -- my wife and I have one child already. However, my wife wants another one. Though I love my daughter, I realize I don't really like raising children. My wife and I both work, and since we work at different times, we have to take turns watching her. Our daughter is at an age now where I can play with her and she talks (she is 5), and I love that, but I do not think I can do it again. For me, one child is enough. -- No More, Chicago

DEAR NO MORE: You and your wife need to talk about your feelings and your shared expectations surrounding children. It is also wise to talk about how you are feeling right now.

It may come as good news that after age 5, many children are able to exercise a bit of independence. In other words, it gets easier to care for them. When you begin to experience the pressure lessening, you may feel differently about having another child. Of course, if you do have another, you will have the approximate five-year period of intense engagement again.

That could be fine, too, if you get some extra help. A regular baby sitter can be invaluable. Enlisting family support or that of trustworthy friends and neighbors can ease your stress.

Or you may truly be done with having children. Explore all options with your wife, and decide on what is next for your family -- together.