DEAR HARRIETTE: My girlfriend has a serious problem: She is constantly checking her various social media pages to see if people responded to her status updates. My girlfriend's phone stays attached to her hand. We went to dinner last week, and she looked at her phone every 10 minutes. At one point, I was talking to the top of her head because she was checking her phone. There is a point where we need to put down our smartphones and enjoy the magical moments of life. I would love for you to help me convey this feeling to my girlfriend. -- Low-Tech Boyfriend, Memphis, Tenn.

DEAR LOW-TECH BOYFRIEND: Your desire to spend quality time with your girlfriend is perfectly understandable. Unfortunately, it is also quite common for people to get so caught up in their social media experiences that they forget where they are or who is with them.

I talk a lot about the need to strike a balance between technology and humanity. Without balance, technology takes over people's lives and can leave little room for precious human interaction.

Some couples have found solutions. One idea is to agree to put away all electronic devices during dates, or at least during the course of a meal. Another idea is to put your electronics in a bowl at the front door when you get home, only to pick them up again just before you are going out again. Hard to do, but definitely worth it! Ask your girlfriend to consider a compromise that makes room for the two of you to enjoy each other's company.

DEAR HARRIETTE: We got a car, but my wife refuses to learn how to drive. I decided to purchase the car after our second child was born. She believes that the man should drive his family around. I understand where she is coming from, but this man needs to work as well just to keep food in the refrigerator and a roof over our heads. The car is at her disposal while I am at work, but she would rather take a cab or the subway. I encouraged her to take some driving lessons, but she refuses. I would like to find a happy medium before I get burnt out. -- Driving My Family, Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR DRIVING MY FAMILY: Sounds like your wife is afraid to drive. That is not unusual considering that she is an adult who has never been behind the wheel. Many people in New York City do not drive, as I am certain you know, because public transportation makes it easy and affordable to get around.

For now, do not press your wife. That is not going to result in the solution you want. Instead, use the car when you need to. And help your wife plan how she can fulfill the duties that are hers. If she can get her tasks handled via public transportation, so be it.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been married to my best friend for 10 years now. I had a day off from work, and I decided to wash his laundry. I usually check the pockets of his clothes to see if he left anything in them, and to my surprise, I found a receipt saying there was purchase of condoms. I am livid -- we have been married for 10 years, so why would he need to purchase condoms at this stage in our marriage? When my husband came home, I questioned him about the receipt. He said he made the purchase for a friend from college. I know marriage has its difficulties, but do you expect me to believe my husband? Why wasn't his friend able to purchase his own condoms? I don't know what to think right now, and I need some clarity. -- Fool in Love, New York City

DEAR FOOL IN LOVE: It is understandable that you would be livid. Unfortunately, cornering your husband to confront him about the receipt surely made him defensive. Why don't you revisit this sensitive issue with a cooler head? Tell him you need to address it again because the discovery really threw you. Ask him to tell you the truth about what is going on -- with his friend or him.

Start the conversation by telling him how the discovery made you feel. Explain that you were shocked to see the receipt, that it immediately made you question the sanctity of your marriage and that you really want to know what is going on. Tell him that it is hard for you to believe that he bought those condoms for someone else. Ask him to share more with you on that topic. If he is reluctant or refuses, speak about your marriage. Explain to him that your heart tells you that this has rattled the covenant of your marriage and that it is important for you to have a full, honest conversation with him about this in order for you to regain your trust in him.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My children would like to participate in Halloween festivities this year; however, due to our religious affiliations, we will not be able to. I would hate to tell my children that they would not be able to participate. Do you have any suggestions on how we can have fun without disrupting our religious beliefs? -- Looking for a Treat, Newark, N.J.

DEAR LOOKING FOR A TREAT: If you are firm on your beliefs, you need to convey that to your children. The conversation needs to include specific religious details that support your position so that you can educate your children.

Further, you should talk to your children about embracing your family's values, even when they differ from others in their peer group. As it relates to doing something fun for your children, yes, you can come up with an alternate activity. Perhaps you can go to the movies or plan a fun family dinner. What you do not want to do is imitate Halloween in a watered-down way. Do not confuse your children about your views. At the same time, do not teach them to pass judgment on their friends who may celebrate the holiday.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I are stuck in a very bad pattern of arguing about every little thing all the time. Sometimes I will just walk around the house without talking because I feel like whatever I say is going to spark an argument. He picks at every little thing, and he says I do the same. Naturally, I think that my criticisms are warranted, but these days I can't even tell. All I know is that I am at my wits' end. I do not like my husband anymore. He is not nice to me. I do not like my life. I am constantly in a state of anxiety not knowing what is going to happen next. I don't mean violence, at least not physical. But the war of words is wearing me down. I'm sick of it, but I don't know how to make it stop. -- Worn Out, Chicago

DEAR WORN OUT: You and your husband could benefit tremendously from therapy. Having a neutral party help you figure out the underlying causes for the hostility that seems to be festering may be your ticket to becoming free of this pattern. Ask your husband if he would consider going to therapy with you. If he says no, consider going on your own.

In general, pay attention to your surroundings. What happens right before an argument starts? How do you speak to your husband? Do you say "Good morning"? Do you ask him how his day was? Are there any safe conversations that you have right now? Can you think of any occasions when you get along? If so, examine those to see what worked and how you might incorporate the good communication in other scenarios. Do your best to speak to your husband in a neutral tone. Avoid accusatory language or intonation. Be kind. You may both want to read the book "Conversation Transformation: Recognize and Overcome the 6 Most Destructive Communication Patterns," by Ben E. Benjamin, Amy Yeager and Anita Simon.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just read the most scathing commentary about me on social media. I am so upset. Somebody who doesn't even have the courage to say his or her real name wrote horrible things about me and then pushed it out on social media. I don't know what to do. I feel like I should correct the many errors that were spewed about me and defend myself. But then part of me feels like I don't want to stoop to that person's level. It was so hateful and mean. But now these awful things about me are out there in the universe. What should I do? -- Defamed, Detroit

DEAR DEFAMED: Social media draws out the cowards in our society specifically because you can be anonymous when you post things. As hard as it may be right now, it is best for you to leave this alone. Do not respond.

You can reach the social media provider to let it know that this person defamed you. On some occasions the host will remove malicious or libelous content.