DEAR HARRIETTE: My 12-year-old daughter went to sleep-away camp this summer and made friends with some girls whom she wants to stay friends with. One of them is very wealthy, though she seems down to earth. The wealthy girl has invited my daughter to visit her in the Hamptons before summer is out, which is very kind, but I’m not sure if this is a good idea. I don’t want my daughter to feel uncomfortable because she doesn’t have as much as this girl. We are practical people and have exposed our daughter to all kinds of experiences. Maybe I am overthinking this. The girl’s parents seem nice and grounded. She seems to be genuinely interested in becoming closer to my daughter. Should I let my daughter spend the weekend with them? -- Overexposure, Jersey City, New Jersey

DEAR OVEREXPOSURE: You consciously put your daughter in the environment where she met this other girl. They developed a natural friendship, which you should allow her to cultivate. Spending time with people who have more resources than you is fine. As long as your daughter is being treated nicely and feels comfortable and safe, you should allow her to expand her experiences. Talk to the parents to be sure of whatever she may need when she is with them and to gauge your comfort level. If all seems well, let her go.

In general, I think it is smart to expose your children to all kinds of people and different ways of living. This helps them to see how big the world is and how diverse our experiences can be. You should reciprocate and invite this girl to visit your daughter. It doesn’t matter that you live more modestly. If the two of them are truly to be friends, they should feel comfortable spending time in both environments.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Whenever my husband drinks too much, he talks about our sex life in detail -- especially if we are hanging out with friends. He uses this opportunity to badmouth me about what I’m doing in the bedroom that isn't to his satisfaction. This is humiliating. I admit that we have been having difficulties that include lack of intimacy, but I do not appreciate him trying to shame me in the company of our friends when he is drinking. How can I get him to stop? -- Drunk Speak, Detroit

DEAR DRUNK SPEAK: It sounds like you and your husband need therapy. Obviously, the state of your sex life is bothersome to your husband if he tends to blurt out your business when he is under the influence. Should he stop drinking? Of course, but that is a symptom of a much bigger issue. Do your best to get your husband to go to therapy with you so that you can talk through your issues and work to figure out how to come back together intimately. You may also consider a sex therapist who specializes in helping couples rekindle romance.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: Both of my parent are in the medical profession. All they ever wanted was for my siblings and me to go to medical school and pursue the same careers they had. I have two older brothers, both of whom are in medical school. Now that I have graduated from college, I am looking for a job. My parents are urging me to go to medical school and think that I should take courses so I can apply. I do not even have the slightest interest in becoming a doctor. I was a public relations major with a minor in marketing, and I want to pursue a career in PR.

Medical school is the last thing that I want to do, and my parents don’t understand. I keep telling them that I don’t want to go to medical school, but they aren’t listening. They say I should look at my brothers and be more like them, but I don’t want to be. I want to do my own thing. Why don’t they understand? -- Not Going to Medical School, Los Angeles

DEAR NOT GOING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL: It can be very difficult to forge your own path when your parents do not support your ideas. My father was a judge, and what he wanted most for me was to pursue the law. When I told him I wanted to be a writer, he responded, “The best type of writing is the law.” I was so mad at the time because I thought he was either not hearing me or not listening. What I now know is that your parents want you to be secure, safe and happy. Security for them often resembles whatever they did in life, especially if they were successful.

I did not pursue law, just as you are not going to pursue medicine. Thank your parents for their concern about your future, apologize for not wanting to follow the path they chose for themselves and ask for their blessing for you to discover your own path. Even if they do not support you right now, do your research and discover opportunities that will lead you to your heart’s desire. As you build your career, you can keep your parents informed so that they can see your life unfold.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My parents got divorced about five years ago. Each of them is now living in a new house. When they first got divorced, they split up everything they owned. I was 19 at the time, so I didn’t get anything. Now that I am 24 and about to move into my own place, I am starting to wonder if it’s appropriate to ask for my childhood bed back. I know my parents bought it, but is it technically mine? I would love to not have to spend a fortune buying a new bed. What’s your take on childhood furniture? Who has the right to it? -- Give Me My Bed Back, Denver

DEAR GIVE ME MY BED BACK: Rather than potentially squabbling over rights, why not ask your parents for their help? Remind them that you are about to move into your first apartment of your own, and you would appreciate their support. Ask if you can borrow your old bed and any other household items that they would be willing to let you use. Don’t make it seem like they owe you. Just ask for their generosity at this time of transition. In this way, you will probably get more!

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have always been a homebody. I've lived in the Northeast my entire life, but after getting divorced from my high school sweetheart, I moved across the country to San Francisco to start a short-term job, just for a change. Immediately when I got there, I started seeing someone new whom I really like.

The short-term job has ended, and now I feel like I need to go back East. All my friends and family are there. However, I like this new guy, and I love the vibes in San Francisco. It is everything I want, but it seems like it’s too soon. I don’t want to rush into something, and I don’t want to let my family down because they don’t want to lose me or see me hurt again. What should I do? Stay here in San Francisco or go home to where I am comfortable? -- Homebody Away From Home, San Francisco

DEAR HOMEBODY AWAY FROM HOME: Good for you that you took the risk to move across country and try something new. That was courageous, and it proved that you can live outside of the bubble that had been your life. Consider it a blessing that you met someone with whom you want to spend time. With that said, it's time to slow down. You don’t have to move back home yet. Look around to see if you can find a job that will allow you to stay in California for a while. Make no commitments to your new friend other than you want to stick around to see how things blossom. You deserve a chance at happiness. Go slowly to see if this relationship has staying power. Tell your family that you are not ready to come back yet. Live your life.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Every time I get drunk, I fight with my boyfriend. What makes it worse is that we are dating long-distance, so I don’t even see him in person; it’s all over text. I never have the intention of fighting with him, but it always happens. It upsets me so much, and I always end up crying the next morning. I will say things that I regret and don’t mean. He and I have been dating for two years now, and he says he doesn’t even care anymore because I do it so often. But I care. I am ashamed that I call him names when I drink. I know that if it continues, he’ll grow tired of it and want to break up. I don’t want to lose him. Do I need to stop drinking? -- Drunk Girlfriend, Cleveland

DEAR DRUNK GIRLFRIEND: Hopefully the challenges you have been experiencing are showing you something even more important than how your long-distance boyfriend reacts: You have a problem. You are aware of it.

Yes, repeatedly drinking too much and spouting off while drunk are signs of a drinking problem. Not being able to control your behavior when you drink is a problem that you should deal with head-on. You could lose your boyfriend if you don’t address your problem, but honestly, you can lose a lot more than that. Get help now. You can start by going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Look them up online in your area.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)