DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it OK not to invite my foster parents to my wedding because my biological parents think they're racist? My biological parents, who are Black, feel uncomfortable around my white foster parents due to some comments they made before that seemed racially insensitive. Now I'm stuck between keeping the peace and addressing these concerns. I care about both sets of parents, but I don't want any tension at my wedding. Currently, I’m leaning more on favoring my bio-parents because they missed a lot in my life. They were a young couple who decided to place me in an orphanage because they couldn’t raise a kid at that time.

How can I handle this situation without hurting anyone's feelings and making sure everyone feels respected and included on my big day? -- Wedding Dilemma

DEAR WEDDING DILEMMA: How important have your foster parents been in your life, especially when you were younger? Do you love them? Do they love you? It’s understandable that your biological parents may have been offended by something that they said, but before you make a rash decision, think about your life with your foster parents. Did they take care of you? How do you feel about what they said?

While it may have been the right decision years ago for your parents to give you up if they couldn’t care for you, it seems unfair of them to try to force you to deny the people who took care of you in their absence a chance to be at your wedding. I recommend talking to both sets of parents and asking them to support you on your big day by being loving and civil -- for your sake.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been with my boyfriend for three years, and there is nothing going on when it comes to our intimacy dynamics. His reluctance to engage in physical intimacy has left me feeling confused and concerned about the state of our connection. I constantly wonder if I am attractive enough for him. In a moment of frustration and vulnerability, I mustered up the courage to ask him if he might be gay, hoping to understand the root cause of his distant behavior. Unfortunately, my inquiry sparked a negative reaction from him, resulting in anger and threats of breaking up. Now I find myself questioning my approach and wondering if I overstepped a boundary by confronting him about his sexual orientation. -- Boyfriend's Sexuality

DEAR BOYFRIEND’S SEXUALITY: While you did not choose the best question to ask your boyfriend about what’s going on in your relationship, you did start the conversation. Follow up with him. Apologize for making an assumption as you also tell him you are baffled. You don’t understand why the two of you are no longer intimate. You have searched your brain trying to figure out what happened. Ask him to talk to you about it. Be as direct as you can. Even though it may feel uncomfortable, ask him if he no longer finds you attractive. Ask him if there is somebody else or if he has a health condition you are unaware of. He needs to let you know what he’s thinking.

(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: How do I politely kick my son out of the house? My 24-year-old son lives with me and my husband in Phoenix. He recently graduated college and doesn’t want to leave our house, even though he has a job and makes enough money to be able to afford an apartment. He would just have to live a more humble life.

Right after he finished college, I allowed him to live with us because he hadn’t found a job yet. However, it's been two years since he found employment, and my husband and I think it's time for him to become more independent and move out. We love having him around, but we also think that living on his own will help him grow and mature further.

I want to approach this conversation delicately to avoid causing unnecessary tension or hurt feelings. We don't want him to feel unwelcome or unloved; rather, we want him to understand that this step is about his personal growth and development. We're proud of his accomplishments and confident in his ability to manage on his own. How can we communicate this to him in a way that is supportive and encouraging? -- Time To Move

DEAR TIME TO MOVE: Talk to your son about his plans for the future. What does he want for his life? How does he envision it? Does he want to buy a home? You might encourage him to save for a starter home and give himself a timeframe for when he will have the down payment. If he doesn’t have that vision, talk to him about independence and the importance of striking out on his own. Suggest that he give himself a deadline for moving out. You will always love and support him, but you believe it is healthy for him to live under his own roof and to begin to make independent decisions. Make it clear to him that he is always welcome at the family home, but it is time for him to establish his own home now.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it acceptable to deactivate my social media accounts without notifying anyone, particularly while living alone, to prioritize my mental well-being? As a person new to the corporate scene, and living alone in a bustling city, the constant influx of social media notifications and comparisons has been taking a toll on my mental health. I am feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly stay connected and maintain a curated online presence. I have been considering the idea of taking a break from social media to focus on self-care and personal growth. However, I worry about how my friends and family might react to my sudden absence on social platforms, especially since I live independently. I have no intention of causing concern among my social circle. -- Social Media Break

DEAR SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK: Yes! Shut them down. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for why you are putting social media on pause. Because you live alone, you may want to inform your “in case of emergency” person. Otherwise, the people closest to you should be reaching out to you personally anyway.

(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 am a 25-year-old woman, and I want to pursue a relationship with my childhood friend. He and I have been friends since we were 5 years old. We went to the same schools from elementary through college, and now we both live in Boston.

Over the years, our friendship has been a constant source of joy and support in my life. We've shared countless memories, from playing in the neighborhood as kids to studying for exams in college. He knows me better than almost anyone else, and I cherish the bond we have. Recently, though, I've started to realize that my feelings for him have deepened beyond friendship. I find myself wondering what it would be like to be more than “just friends” and whether there is potential for a romantic relationship between us.

The idea of exploring a romantic relationship with him excites me, but it also makes me anxious. I'm worried about the possibility of ruining our long-standing friendship if things don't work out. Additionally, I have no idea if he feels the same way about me or if he even sees me in a romantic light. I'm not sure how to broach the subject without making things awkward between us. How can I approach this situation? -- More Than Friends

DEAR MORE THAN FRIENDS: Drum up the courage to talk to your friend about this. Tell him that you have a sensitive matter to discuss, and you hope he is open to listen. Remind him of how much you value your friendship, and tell him you have been wondering if you two can be more than platonic friends. Admit that you are worried that bringing this up could damage your friendship, but you figured it is worth considering. Ask him if he has ever thought about the two of you as a couple or if he would consider it.

Don’t pressure him to make a decision on the spot. Have patience, and see what he says. If the answer is yes, explore the possibilities. If it is no, give yourselves some space, if needed, and then agree to remain friends.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently met someone who swept me off my feet. I haven’t had an intimate relationship for years, and just being around this guy turned me on. I got so caught up, though, that I think I scared him off. We were talking every day, sometimes well into the night, but a few days ago he stopped calling. Do I press him to find out what I did wrong or wait to see if he will come back? -- Hot

DEAR HOT: Trust your gut. It sounds like you pushed too hard already. Don’t do anything. If this guy remains interested in you, he will reach out. Meanwhile, don’t just sit and wait for him -- live your life. Be grateful that you have rediscovered your sensuality. Maybe that was this man’s role in your life, to reawaken you to yourself, not necessarily to be your partner. It could be that he served his purpose. Hold on to the good feeling that you got from engaging with him, but don’t try to make more of it than there is. Now calm down and open your eyes to see who might be a good partner for you. Don’t try to force anything; just be present.

(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.)