DEAR HARRIETTE: My son has moved back into my home after getting a divorce from his wife of one year. He is 25 years old, and I feel his marriage failed due to his misogynistic comments. Over the past couple of years, he started watching a YouTuber who has been giving him these ideas.

If I’m honest, I also feel as if his actions are a result of my poor parenting. I am his mother, and I raised him to become the man he is today. Since moving in, he has been making my two daughters’ lives much more difficult, and they will often get into arguments with him because he constantly talks down to them. As a mother, this breaks my heart, but it’s difficult to intervene and put my foot down because he is a grown man. My daughters tell me that I should kick him out of the house because he shouldn’t be here, but I’m scared to do so because his finances are really tight right now due to his divorce and inflation. How do you suggest I navigate this situation? -- Wayward Son

DEAR WAYWARD SON: You may not be ready to put your son out of your house, but surely you can lay down the law. Establish ground rules for how you expect him to behave while he is there. That includes speaking respectfully to his sisters. Give him examples of how he has been talking to them and how hurtful his words have been. Go a step further and have a serious talk with him about what happened in his marriage, how you believe the YouTuber has negatively influenced him and even how you may have steered him wrong. Now is the time for him to take control of his life. Tell him he can stay with you for a while if he is willing to treat everyone respectfully. Otherwise, he has to go.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm usually the type of person who loves connecting my different friend groups, but I've run into a problem with a certain friend. Whenever I introduce her to someone, she seems to latch onto them and reach out to them more often than I'd like. It's becoming an issue, and I'm regretting introducing her to certain people. She doesn't see anything wrong with it, but it's making me uncomfortable. The other day she actually reached out to my boyfriend and arranged to hang out with him while I was out of town. I’m sure it was innocent, but it was definitely awkward. How do I tell her how uncomfortable this makes me? -- Back Off

DEAR BACK OFF: Be prepared with examples of your friend’s behavior so that you can clearly illustrate your concerns. Ask her to stop sidling up to your friends so intensely. You can also learn from the past. Stop introducing her to everyone. Her behavior is likely unconscious, which means she may not know how to control herself. It is up to you to protect your relationships. You may want to tell your friends it’s OK to stop interacting with her if she makes them uncomfortable.

(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 friend got upset with me because I am friends with her ex-boyfriend. My brother is close to him and a number of other guys, and I often hang with their group. I recently went on a trip with my brother, and my friend’s ex offered to let us stay with him. We grew close over the trip -- platonically. I am closer to him now than I am to her. They had a healthy relationship and broke up over a year ago, and she has a new boyfriend.

When she reached out to me saying that she was uncomfortable with our bond and with my tagging him in group photos, I found it odd, and I defended myself and our friendship. I would never go behind her back and I was not keeping our friendship a secret, so I was confused about her accusations. Am I wrong for continuing to be close with him when she is upset about this? I don’t understand it, especially since she has been in a new relationship for nine months. -- Friend Vs. Ex

DEAR FRIEND VS. EX: People can be weirdly possessive about their exes, even when they are involved in new relationships. Your friend may be worried that your platonic friendship may turn romantic, and even though she isn’t with him, she doesn’t want her friends to be either. This is not logical thinking, but it is common. Talk to her. Tell her how you have naturally come to be close to him. Tell her you have no intention of hurting her feelings, but he has become your close friend, and you value that friendship.

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my close friends grew up with really strict parents and now is a bit reckless when she goes out because of some delayed rebellion. She never learned how to conduct herself safely in nightlife while still having fun, and she often blurs the lines as a result. I am worried about her. I do not want her to end up in a bad situation, but I also do not want to seem like a buzzkill. She’s very friendly, but when people are a bit tipsy, they tend to take her kindness for flirtation. Then she asks us why they are acting weird toward her. How should I approach a conversation with her about being more aware at night -- and maybe even less friendly -- without telling her what to do or seeming like the authority that she is trying to rebel against? -- Unsafe Nightlife

DEAR UNSAFE NIGHTLIFE: Sit with your friend and tell her you need to have a heart-to-heart. Explain that you are worried about her when she goes out at night because she sometimes drinks too much and puts herself in what could be considered compromising positions. Suggest that she monitor her alcohol consumption so that she maintains complete control of her faculties. Assure her that you aren’t judging her. You are trying to have her back. If she accuses you of sounding like her parents, apologize, but stand firm. She needs to know how important it is for her to have agency over herself. Even if she gets mad at you temporarily, your candor may help save her life.

(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: My niece is enrolled in her third college in three years, and I am nervous that she is wasting her time and money. She started off at a school in Texas playing soccer. After many issues with her coach and teammates, she decided not to play for them the next school year and ended up leaving the college. She moved back to our home state of Ohio and went to a community college but decided it was too small for her. Now she is at our state school, and it seems as if she will stick it out.

However, she still doesn’t know what she wants to do and may have to stay three more years at this school because her credits haven’t transferred completely. I understand that she’s young and still figuring things out, but six years for a bachelor’s degree is irresponsible, in my opinion. Her parents don’t seem bothered by all the money that her indecisiveness has cost them, but I feel as if I should say something to her, so hopefully she won’t continue to live her life this way. Should I say something or keep quiet? -- Take School Seriously

DEAR TAKE SCHOOL SERIOUSLY: If you think your niece will hear you, it’s worth a try to talk to her. Do your best to speak without judgment, though. It will be hard for her to listen if she thinks you don’t respect her. Instead of criticizing her decisions directly, ask her what she wants to do with her life. What are her interests? What type of work does she want to do long-term? Encourage her to get a part-time job while she is studying. That will help her to develop the discipline of working and may help her to think about her choices.

College works for students when they take it seriously and figure out a plan for their lives. Encourage your niece to talk to her adviser, who can help her map out a strategy for the future.

DEAR HARRIETTE: As a dental hygienist, I have been trained to pay close attention to specific signs that may indicate certain dental problems. Unfortunately, I have started to notice some troubling signs in my girlfriend's teeth, and I suspect she’s struggling with an eating disorder. The signs are unmistakable. I don't know how to bring it up to her; I don't want to sound accusatory or pushy, but at the same time, I am worried about her well-being. How do I mention my observation without offending her? -- Trained Hygienist

DEAR TRAINED HYGIENIST: Rather than accusing your girlfriend based on your training, talk to her and get a sense of what’s going on. Have you observed any behaviors that indicate that she has an eating disorder? If so, bring that up. It is true that people with eating disorders can be good at hiding their illness. If that is the case with your girlfriend, you can ask her directly. She will likely recoil and ask why you would make such an accusation. That’s when you can reveal that you see evidence of the disorder in her teeth. Offer to get her help, but know that people accept help only when they are ready for it.

(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.)