DEAR HARRIETTE: I started my first corporate job three months ago, but I lied about having prior experience in order to get it. It was really daunting at first. I was worried that I wouldn't know what to do, but I somehow managed to make it work. So far, everyone at the workplace has been extremely welcoming and helpful in teaching me the ropes. Although I've made some mistakes, I'm learning quickly. However, this has caused me to become exhausted as there's so much for me to take in and figure out! Despite this, I've maintained the facade of knowing what I'm doing thus far. Is it possible for me to keep this up in the long term? -- Fake It Till You Make It

DEAR FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT: I am not a proponent of lying. It rarely works to your advantage. But given that you did lie to get into this job, your responsibility now is to do everything you can to become proficient and then excellent at it. Exhaustion may be the price you have to pay until you are solid in your skills and execution. Three months may feel like a long time, but it is not. That actually matches the probationary period that many companies use to evaluate whether employees are capable of doing the job they were hired to execute. So, stay on point and keep learning.

Know that the day will probably come when you will be called on your lie. When it does, you should tell the truth -- in context. Why did you lie? Was it to get an opportunity? Was it because you had been out of work so long that you were desperate? Was it because you really believed you could do it? Whatever the reason, if and when you are asked about your past by a person in power, be prepared to tell the truth, defend yourself and apologize.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have always wanted to have children but never got around to it until later in life. As a result, my son is growing up without siblings, and I worry that he may feel lonely at times. It can be difficult for him when his friends all have brothers or sisters to play with. He has extended family, but not many of them live close by. Is there any way to ensure my son isn't deprived of the important relationships and experiences that come with having siblings? -- Older Parent

DEAR OLDER PARENT: You cannot change your son’s birth circumstances, but you can offer perspective as well as put him in situations where he may be able to develop close-knit bonds with peers. First, please know that your son is not the only only child. Look around in his school and your community. You are bound to find some other young person who is solo. When you do, learn a bit about that child and their family. If the child seems grounded enough, suggest to the parents that the two of them meet.

Look around some more for other children in your community who are your son’s age. Encourage your son to invite them to play together. Be proactive. You may need to cultivate a rapport with the parents in order to set up the play dates. That’s fine. Do whatever you can to expand your son’s orbit, and stop comparing his reality to anyone else’s, including his cousins'. It is a blessing that you have a child. Pay attention to him and his needs and respond to them. How he lives and what he needs are specific to him.

(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: My husband has had false teeth for more than 20 years, so he is accustomed to them. When he drinks heavily, though, he often takes them out of his mouth and puts them who knows where, only to be searching madly for them the next day. I find this infuriating and irresponsible. One time it took him a few days to find his teeth, so he had to go to work and interact with people looking absolutely crazy.

Anyhow, he repeated this awful behavior the other day. I attempted to intervene by suggesting that he put his teeth in his tooth cup. He sneered at me and kept on drinking. I’m sick of this. I hate when he gets that drunk, of course. But what’s worse is having to be enlisted in the search for his teeth the next day. How can I get him to wake up and see that what he’s doing isn’t working? -- Lost His Teeth

DEAR LOST HIS TEETH: Stop enabling your husband. As frustrating and embarrassing as it may be for him to be without his teeth in the light of day, especially if he has to interact with others, that is his problem, not yours. Tell him that he is on his own in the search department. Remind him of why his teeth are missing, even though he will hate hearing it, and make it clear that you are no longer willing to participate in the aftermath of his drunken evenings.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a number of health challenges that require me to have regular medical checkups and to take a few different medications. My husband has no patience for this. He thinks I am a hypochondriac and that I am taking too many medications. He doesn’t believe in going to the doctor and tells me that if I would only exercise and take the fistfuls of vitamins that he takes, I would be OK. I don’t doubt that more exercise and some vitamins might help, but he is constantly admonishing me for my health problems. His attitude doesn’t make me want to consider any of his ideas or tell him when I get a health report. I feel like I am retreating to a corner because of how we interact. How can I make our relationship more amicable on this topic? -- Listen to Me

DEAR LISTEN TO ME: Tell your husband that you need and want his support regarding your health challenges and that right now it feels like you receive only criticism. Point out that you know the two of you do not see eye to eye on health management, but you are grappling with some real health issues, and you would appreciate being able to share the journey with him. Ask him to listen to you without judgment and to try to be supportive.

Meanwhile, you should enlist someone else who is sympathetic to your condition to serve as a confidant. You may even want to consider making somebody else your health proxy in case of emergency. If your husband is not up on your situation and is either impatient or skeptical of your health concerns, he may not be the best person to help you in case of emergency.

(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: My health issues have become so overwhelming that it’s putting a strain on my relationship. My partner has been supportive and understanding, but the amount of energy and attention I need is beginning to take a toll. It’s hard to keep from seeing myself as a burden when I’m feeling this way, and I know it must be difficult for my partner, too. They are trying to help in any way they can, but it’s just not enough sometimes. We’re both struggling with this situation, and it feels like an uphill battle that we can’t seem to win. How do I ensure that my relationship won’t suffer because of my health problems? -- Worried

DEAR WORRIED: Don’t push your partner away. They are there for you and with you, which is amazing. Thank them for being there through this incredibly tough period. Acknowledge that you understand how tough things are right now, and you appreciate all that they are doing for you.

Assess your needs, and figure out if there is any additional support that you can get. Will your insurance provide extra help? Can you utilize an outpatient resource to help with any logistical needs you may have? Figure out anything and everything that you can round up to help you manage your needs. Before you put a plan in place, talk to your partner. Lay out what you have learned, and ask for their input. Make sure that you present these ideas as ways to support your health needs and take some of the burden off of them. Ask for their buy-in.

Your partner may just be that “through thick and thin, sickness and in health” person for you. You don’t want to run them away if they are up for being your lifelong partner. Ask where they stand and figure out how you can help ease the burden on everyone.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend, a mom from my daughter’s private school, who travels a lot. I didn’t really think about it much until recently. That’s when I figured out that she must be rich. When we hang out, I have no sense of what her life is like outside the bubble that we are in with our kids and stuff. I was thinking about it, and in just the past year, she has gone on four major trips. When she comes back, she always shares little bits, but now I’m curious about what her life is really like. Since she hasn’t included me in those stories, I wonder if it’s appropriate for me to ask questions. She is a cool lady. She doesn’t work, but she doesn't flaunt her lifestyle either. Should I just leave well enough alone? -- Who Is She?

DEAR WHO IS SHE?: Why do you want to know? Answer that before you start asking questions. You may discover that there are many wealthy families at your school. If they keep their wealth low-key, that can be a plus for everyone. Her personal business is hers to share if she so chooses.

If your curiosity is getting the best of you, you can ask her to tell you about her most recent trip. If you develop a sincere friendship with her, you will naturally learn about her life as you also should share about your own. Learning about others can be fascinating -- and daunting, too. Just do your best to hold your own by staying confident in who you are, what you value and what you teach your child about life. Do not try to compete with her or value yourself less if you discover she has more than you do of certain things.

(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.)