DEAR HARRIETTE: I come from a professional family. For several generations, everyone has been college educated and has had a great professional job. I took that route myself, and I am now working in finance, which I like.

I have met and fallen in love with a man who does not have a college degree. He and his family are simple people who live pretty modestly. They are salt-of-the-earth people, too. I love him, and I love them. My boyfriend does landscaping. He has his own truck and all of the tools he needs in order to be self-sufficient, and he does very well. In fact, he already makes way more money than I do in my junior banking job. I know it’s not enough for my family. They expect me to bring home somebody with a pedigree. I haven’t met anybody like that who makes me this happy.

Even though our backgrounds are different, my boyfriend and I like enough of the same things that I think it will be OK. How can I introduce him to my family so that they will accept him? -- Off Class

DEAR OFF CLASS: Being in a relationship with someone of a different class is one of the classic love story tropes, not unlike Cinderella and Prince Charming. Family beliefs and differences can be difficult to overcome, but you do not have to give in. If you love this man and believe that you can build a life together, drum up the courage to make that known to your family.

Start by talking to him and making sure that he understands what to expect when meeting your family. Get him ready so he isn’t too awkward when he meets them. Prep them by letting them know that you will be introducing them to the man you love. Ask them to give him a chance.

Time will tell whether you two can withstand the judgments of your family and carve out a place for you to thrive.

DEAR HARRIETTE: This summer I was invited to so many people’s homes to visit them, kind of in an impromptu way. I spent a weekend in a beach community, and people were so generous in inviting me to come over for drinks or dinner. Some of the people I knew, and others were new to me. It was very nice. Because it all happened so quickly, I wasn’t always able to bring a gift with me, like a bottle of wine or chocolates or something. Should I follow up with a gift? I have all of their phone numbers because we were mainly texting one another. What is an appropriate way to let them know how much I enjoyed their hospitality? -- Follow-Through

DEAR FOLLOW-THROUGH: If you took photos that include the people you visited and yourself, it would be sweet to send a thank-you text expressing your gratitude for their hospitality and sharing a memory of your time together. A bottle of wine after the fact is not necessary.

It is great when you visit people’s homes to bring them something -- what used to be called a hostess gift. But this is not a requirement. In impromptu settings like what you have described, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. But calling or texting to say thank you is thoughtful and memorable. Adding a photo helps to capture the memory for later times.

(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 tried to give my niece money for her birthday, but she doesn’t have a bank account. She is 13 years old. I was shocked. I want to start an account for her, but I don’t want to offend her parents. I think she needs to learn about money and how to grow it. How can I make this recommendation without hurting my sister’s feelings? -- Open an Account

DEAR OPEN AN ACCOUNT: Out of respect for your sister, you can tell her that you want to give your niece the gift of a bank account. You can ask for her blessing in setting it up.

If you believe that your sister will not like it, you can still open an account and put money in it for your niece. You can open a 529 account, which allows you to save money for college tax-free. You can let your niece know about it or have it as a secret until she gets ready to go to college. Or you can take her on a date and set up a savings account with her and encourage her to add money to it.

Obviously it would be ideal for your sister to support the experience, but if your gut says that she will be skittish, your niece still deserves to learn about money and have her own. Because she is a minor, your name will have to be on the account as well.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter has been badgering me about getting her a dog for years. I have always said no, including now -- for two reasons. First, I have no time or inclination to take care of a dog, and no matter what she says, even at age 16, she will not accept responsibility for walking, feeding, bathing and entertaining a dog. Second, I’m allergic to dogs, even hypoallergenic ones.

She met a teacup dog, a tiny dog that can fit in a purse, and has started up all over again. I don’t want to deny her something she really wants, but I can’t do it. How can I make that clear to her without being mean? -- No Dog House

DEAR NO DOG HOUSE: If you are clear that you will not be welcoming a dog into your home, don’t waver. Tell your daughter that a dog isn’t happening. But tell her that when she has her own house, she can do whatever she wants, including having a dog. Let your daughter know that this is not a punishment. More, you know what you can handle. She will need to figure that out for herself when she has a dog. Talk to her about what the responsibilities are so that she knows what she’s getting into. Don’t tell her as if she wouldn’t fulfill them; just remind her so that she has a clear understanding of her job when she becomes a pet owner.

If she is desperate to be around dogs, she might consider volunteering at the humane society or getting a job at a pet store.

(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 am so scared because of the extreme weather in the world. When I listen to the news, I can’t tell what to believe. Some leaders say that this is all happening because of climate change, and they say that it is not too late for us to change our ways. Others say that’s a bunch of baloney, and human beings have nothing to do with the weather patterns.

I am so scared. I want to know if there is anything that I can do to make our planet better rather than just waiting until the next natural disaster possibly hurts me and my family. What can I do? -- Scared of the Weather

DEAR SCARED OF THE WEATHER: While there are varying opinions about the state of our world and our direct responsibility for it, most experts agree that human beings have contributed to climate change. In the simplest of terms, our carbon footprint increases with the energy used to create many conveniences in our lives. According to NASA, “Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. You need transportation, electricity, food, clothing and other goods. Your choices can make a difference.” The most direct way that each of us can support the Earth is by being conscious of how we use energy. That includes turning off electronic appliances.

Now, the debate continues as to whether our choices have caused devastating storms like the most recent, Hurricane Dorian, which devastated the Bahamas. But many experts suggest that we should do things today that can help reduce further damage in the future. For more information about climate change, go to climate.nasa.gov/causes and

https://go.nasa.gov/2lEsuUn. To learn what you can do to help reduce your carbon footprint, go to climatekids.nasa.gov/how-to-help.

If you want to contribute to the rebuilding of communities that have been devastated by Dorian, you can go to redcross.org or look for local charities that are working to help out.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister and I are three years apart. We got along pretty well when we were growing up, but we haven’t stayed close as adults. We live in two different countries and rarely see each other. When our family got together this summer, it was nice in a way, but also really awkward. We ended up getting into an argument about nothing really, but it was bad. We left without resolving anything. I fear that if we don’t make a decision to mend our fences, it might never happen. What can we do? -- Bad Sibling Vibes

DEAR BAD SIBLING VIBES: Contact your sister and tell her that you hate that the two of you had such a bad experience. Tell her you don’t want to leave it like that. Ask her if you can agree to forgive each other for whatever happened and figure out ways to stay connected. Tell her that you want to have a relationship with her.

(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.)