DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently found an expensive ring that my ex-boyfriend loaned me. I was stressed about it for a while because it was not a gift and I could not locate it when we broke up. I went for a walk with my current boyfriend and my best friend and expressed my happiness about finally finding the ring. My boyfriend made a joke about posting a photo of him wearing my ex’s ring, and my best friend and I immediately shut it down. We had not ended on bad terms, so I found it disrespectful to taunt my ex like that, but my boyfriend, who does not particularly get along with my ex, did not see it as an issue.

We all got into an argument about it, and my boyfriend did not understand why I was protecting my ex’s feelings when the two of them had issues. How do I explain to him that I am not trying to side with my ex, I just do not want to cause any unnecessary problems between them or bring up any resentment they once held for each other? -- Boyfriend Vs. Ex

DEAR BOYFRIEND VS. EX: The mistake you made was talking about the ring with your boyfriend at all. Especially since they had some beef with each other, that revelation only reignited your boyfriend’s feelings about him and triggered him to be more territorial about you.

You can attempt to squash this by apologizing to your boyfriend for bringing up the found jewelry in the first place. Let him know you did not mean to trigger any old animosities he may have about your ex. Let him know that you will return the ring, and that will be that. Then you should stop talking about it. I’m sure you meant well by giving your boyfriend a blow-by-blow about the ring and your ex. As you see, sometimes TMI backfires.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am not traveling or working this summer, and I cannot help but feel like I am missing something. I constantly feel like I have to hang out with friends or go outside and do something. Otherwise, I am just wasting my summer. I do not want to seem annoying by asking my friends too much, but I also do not have as many responsibilities as them, so my days are empty. I stay home sometimes, but my family relationships are a bit rocky at the moment. I do not know what to do, and I feel like I do not have enough time to commit to anything. I have been trying to think of hobbies, but I often get bored with them after a couple of days. What do you suggest I do to fill my time without spending too much money? -- Bored Over Summer

DEAR BORED OVER SUMMER: Enroll in a summer class that has fixed hours and a short run. It could be in the arts, crafts, sports -- anything. Look on community bulletin boards online to learn what’s available, and go for it. You can also join a book club where you have to read a book and then talk about it with a group. You can even form your own. It may not be too late to get a summer job where you work a few hours a week, earn money and occupy your time efficiently. There are also probably limitless volunteer opportunities in your community. You could help for a short time at a variety of organizations to keep yourself engaged.

(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 oldest sister is hardly talking to my dad because of an incident that resulted in him breaking her car and costing her thousands of dollars. This happened back in October 2022, and the mistake left my sister without a car for weeks in the city she had just moved to in Rhode Island. She is having a difficult time forgiving my dad. She told him multiple times to pull over because she heard something wrong with her car, but he refused. This was her first car, which she had bought only a few weeks before the incident, and this strain on their relationship has caused our family a lot of stress and drama.

I was wondering if there were some words of wisdom I could offer to my sister and dad in order to help them repair their relationship and restore peace in our family? -- Mend Fences

DEAR MEND FENCES: Did your father ever apologize to your sister about his behavior? Did he help pay for the repairs? If the answer to those questions is no, it’s understandable that your sister would continue to hold a grudge. If you think your father would listen, talk to him first and ask if he would attempt to make amends. Since he was wrong, it would help a lot for him to admit it.

As far as your sister goes, talk to her and suggest that she let go of her anger as it is only making her and everyone else miserable. Recommend that she forgive her father, even if he is being rude, and move on. She can draw a line and no longer allow him to drive her car, though. Perhaps she can reach out, tell him she’s still hurt but that she loves him and wants to move on.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I babysit for a family occasionally, and their kid is great. It does not normally feel like a chore or take too long, and I can often go out after babysitting is over. The parents often return from events around 10:30 to 11 p.m., so one night I made plans to sleep over at a friend’s place before we all left for a trip the next morning. That night, they did not get back until 3 a.m., and I had to sleep at home. I was exhausted when I got to my friend’s house later in the morning.

I normally do not ask what time the parents will come home because they tend to be consistent, but if I make plans in the future, I want to know when they will return. How do I go about asking them their ETA without sounding rude or like I am rushing them? -- Babysitting Overtime

DEAR BABYSITTING OVERTIME: You have every right to ask about the parents’ expectations for their evening. It’s not rude or pushy to do so. You can also tell them why -- you want to make plans for after their normal return time, but you want to verify that this will work for them. There is no need to be apologetic when you ask, either. It is more than reasonable for you to have a sense of your hours, even when you don’t have plans.

(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 feel awkward saying this, but I don’t really know what Juneteenth is. At my new job, we get the day off, which is nice. I always appreciate paid time off, but I want to be informed so that I can talk about it or at least not sound stupid. Can you explain it to me? And why is it getting popular only now? -- New Celebration

DEAR NEW CELEBRATION: June 19th, commonly known as Juneteenth, became a national holiday in 2021. That’s when it reached national recognition, though it has been celebrated both small and wide since 1865. It recognizes the day -- June 19, 1865 -- when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed that they were free. That date came two full years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which was to serve as the official announcement of the end of slavery, but the message didn’t reach Galveston until much later. Galveston was the last place in the country to give enslaved people their freedom.

People in Texas have long celebrated this moment of emancipation. Over the years, communities in the South, in particular, have hosted events in honor of this pivotal day in American history. Many signed petitions and marched to create the national holiday, including 95-year-old Fort Worth native Opal Lee, who is known as the grandmother of Juneteenth. To learn more about her, go to: juneteenthftw.com/opal-lee.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I often run into a former teacher of mine in my community, and it's always an awkward encounter. She taught me when I was around 15 or 16 years old, and I'm in my late 20s now.

The problem is that every time I see her, she tells me another story about myself that definitely did not happen. The stories are usually her recalling a time that I misbehaved or got in trouble in class. I was a straight-A student, and I was always respectful and responsible in school. It's frustrating and upsetting to have her remember me in this way, and I'm not sure how to handle it. I thought maybe she had me confused with someone else, but she insisted that she didn’t. Next time, should I have a serious conversation with her about this? Should I let it go and avoid her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. -- Bad Memory

DEAR BAD MEMORY: Seek her out and invite her to tea or coffee. Sit with her and ask her to tell you about her life. Get a sense of where her mind and thoughts are. If you have positive memories of her as your teacher, share those with her. Give her stories she may not recall that can replace the inaccurate ones.

Then tell her that you aren’t sure with whom she is confusing you, but assure her that you were a conscientious, straight-A student, and you enjoyed her class. If she continues to insist on her memories, invite her to let them go and share your positive stories instead.

(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.)