DEAR HARRIETTE: I am renting a room from a single mother with two kids. I live in a bedroom on the opposite side of the house with my own bathroom. Most of the time I do not even see the children or their mother because of our schedules. The kids leave for school at 7 a.m., and I am up for work by 9 a.m. Lately, when I return from work, I notice small things in my bedroom and bathroom are out of place. I've gone so far as to take pictures of how everything looked before I left just to make the comparison. It’s safe to say that someone in the house is touching my things, and I’m assuming it’s the children. How do I handle this without sounding too confrontational? -- Don’t Touch
DEAR DON’T TOUCH: Talk to your landlord. Ask her to put locks on your doors. Kindly explain that you have noticed that things are out of place in your private spaces, and you imagine that the children’s curiosity has led them into your bedroom and bathroom. Knowing that kids will be kids, you understand their urge to check out your space, but you want it to be off-limits. A simple lock on your doors can solve that.
Don’t accuse the children of doing anything bad. They are likely just looking around. If the mom says she is certain this isn’t happening, tell her about the photos you took to prove it to yourself. Show her, if needed. Either way, get the locks.