DEAR HARRIETTE: I am writing to ask for advice about how I should handle my employee moving out of the country while we remain a fully remote team. Obviously, she is allowed to work from anywhere she wants to, but scheduling has become a challenge because of the time difference. I'm struggling with finding ways to keep the team connected and feeling like a cohesive unit, and my employee moving out of the country hasn’t made anything easier. I need her to be more accommodating to the majority of the company and the time zone that we all work in. What should I do? -- Time Difference

DEAR TIME DIFFERENCE: The remote workplace comes with a unique set of challenges -- not the least of which is managing time zones. You need to talk to this employee about the realities that her move has had on the dynamic of the team and the ability to get work done. Point out the obvious: Now that the time zones don’t match up, there is less time for one-on-one interaction between her and her teammates. Explain that you need her to carve out more time to interact with them.

What some remote workers do is to vary their office hours to match the majority time zone as much as possible. That could mean that the person in the most remote time zone works a night shift in order to be available during what is a day shift for the majority of the team. There can be variations on that, where the person works one or two days per week for extended hours and otherwise reports with updates and deliverables electronically. You can design a schedule that accommodates your team’s needs and that allows for the one who is abroad to feel seen and honored if you work together.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've always known I didn't want children, but now that all of my friends have them, it's hard to navigate the expectations and opinions that have become a part of our relationships. They never directly say that my life is less meaningful because I do not have children, but the subtle implications make it feel like that's what they're trying to convey. Is there any way to find peace in my decision to stay child-free and show them that my life has value? -- Childless By Choice

DEAR CHILDLESS BY CHOICE: You may want to expand your friend base to include other people who do not have children. With them, there will be no expectations around your family status. Then, when you are around your friends with children, there may be less internal pressure on your part to react to the differences in your lives. Right now you are particularly sensitive on this subject, which could mean that you are reading judgment into their comments that may not even be there. Even if you are not, by choosing to spend time with people whose worldview is different from that of new parents, you should be able to create space to entertain a different type of conversation.

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

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel so bad. A friend of mine asked me to talk to her dad about a project he is working on. I agreed right away, but then I got distracted. First, I got sick with whatever bug is making its rounds. Then I got so busy playing catch-up at work that I totally forgot. I remembered the other day, but then I felt like such a loser that I didn’t reach out. It just felt like it was too late. But that’s no way to handle things. I don’t mean to be a disappointment, especially to my friend’s dad. What can I say or do to make it up to him? -- Not a Flake

DEAR NOT A FLAKE: Now that you have remembered, reach out at once to your friend. Tell her the truth. Start by letting her know that you haven’t spoken to her father yet. Then explain that you got sick, followed by the busyness of work after taking time off. Apologize for the delay, and offer to schedule a time to talk to her father in the near future. Be sure to be realistic when you offer a time to talk so that you don’t run the risk of missing a meeting that you schedule now.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I thought the pandemic was over, and maybe it is, but COVID-19 is still around. My mother, who lives in an assisted living facility, just came down with it for the second time. So far she doesn’t have bad symptoms, but I’m scared to my core. The last time she had COVID-19 was in 2020, way before the vaccine. She got so sick, we thought she was going to die. It took several months for us to be allowed to see her again. This feels like deja vu. The facility won’t allow us to visit her for at least 10 days. She is bewildered, not understanding what is going on. I know she is worried. Our family is, too. I don’t know what to do. -- Deja Vu

DEAR DEJA VU: Talk to your mother’s doctor to learn what is recommended for her care. Then talk to her facility daily to make sure they are providing the proper care. Ask specific questions so that you can get clear answers. Do your best not to yell at them. The more hospitable you are, the better chance you have for them to treat her well. Send your mother food to help supplement whatever they are serving.

If you have a smartphone or other video device and the facility has one as well (like a cellphone or tablet), contact her daily via video chat. This will allow you to see each other. It can help your mother to feel less isolated and give you the chance to see firsthand how she is doing. The more you can engage her, the more connected you all will feel.

(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 ran into a woman at work I hadn’t connected with for more than a year. We have been saying that we were going to get together for dinner, but neither of our schedules would match up. I’m going to say we made dates and broke them about four or five times. When we saw each other today, it was really nice, but we both looked at each other and laughed, saying it takes work to get us together. There was something that was sad about that. She and I really like each other, but we never could get together. It may never have happened if our jobs hadn’t scheduled it. I don’t want to be that person who puts work before everything. How can I change? -- Put Me First

DEAR PUT ME FIRST: Let this moment serve as a wake-up call. Of course, you have to do your job, but it is time to reassess your priorities. If you value this woman, why did you not make time for her before now? How many people that you care about do you put off because you are too busy at work? Make a list of your personal priorities. This list should include people, communities and activities that matter to you. Then prioritize this list and start checking it off. If you include your personal priorities alongside your work requirements, it will be easier for you to see how you are spending your time and what you need to move up on the list.

As far as this woman goes, make a date right now that both of you feel will work, and then honor that commitment. You will thank yourself for it!

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor has two young children. They are nice people and mostly spend time by themselves. A couple of times, though, my neighbor has asked me to watch her children for her. I do not have children and have spent very little time with them in my life. The one time that I said yes, the oldest kid was throwing stuff in my apartment and ended up hurting himself -- not badly, but still. I am clueless as to how to care for little kids. I don’t want that responsibility again. But my neighbor continues to ask me to help her out. How can I let her know that I don't feel equipped or interested in babysitting? -- Not a Sitter

DEAR NOT A SITTER: Is there anything else you can do to help your neighbor? Maybe you can offer to make a grocery store run or pick up the dry cleaning, something that will help this young mother out. It is kind to make the effort to support her. Rather than simply saying no when she asks for help, tell her that you are willing to help, but you are unwilling to watch her kids. Be clear that you do not think it is safe for them or comfortable for you. Remind her that you have no experience with caring for children.

(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.)