DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m a wife and mom, and I work full-time, which means my days are busy from the moment I wake up until I close my eyes at night. With getting my kids ready in the morning, working all day, handling dinner, helping with homework and household responsibilities, it feels like every minute of my life belongs to someone else. For 2026, I set a goal to start running. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years -- not to train for a marathon or change how I look, but simply to have something that’s just for me and to feel healthier and to have more energy. The problem is, I genuinely don’t know where to fit it in. Early mornings feel impossible because I’m already exhausted, and evenings are filled with family obligations and more exhaustion. Once I have a moment, all I want to do is rest.

I’m frustrated because this goal feels small yet completely out of reach. I don’t want to give up on myself, but I also don’t want to feel selfish or unrealistic. How can I make time for running without feeling like I’m neglecting my family, my job or my responsibilities? -- Can’t Run

DEAR CAN’T RUN: It’s time to talk to your spouse. You need help managing your responsibilities. Ask for it. Either get your spouse to handle some of the family obligations so that you can take a run in the morning or the evening, or find it in the budget to hire a babysitter or some other kind of helper to let you take time for yourself.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son recently got kicked out of his college for going against the academic integrity policy. I was so disappointed in him when he told me what happened. I raised him to value honesty and hard work, so this feels like a failure not only on his part, but somehow on mine as well. He insists that he knows he made a mistake by cheating and didn’t think it would lead to such serious consequences, but the school was strict with their decision, and he is no longer allowed to enroll there.

I’m struggling with how to handle this as a parent. Part of me wants to step in, call the school and do whatever I can to fix the situation or appeal the decision. Another part of me feels like shielding him from the consequences would teach him that someone will always clean up his messes. He’s embarrassed, withdrawn and unsure of what to do next, and I worry about how this setback will affect his confidence and future opportunities. He wants to apply to another college, but he doesn’t know if he will get in. How do I support my son through this failure while still holding him accountable for his actions? -- Next Steps

DEAR NEXT STEPS: Help your son to accept what happened and move forward. His actions got him thrown out of his school. Encourage him to apply to another school, perhaps starting at the community college level and building up from there. Only by facing his life can he define a way forward. You can cheer him on, but don’t try to do it for him. It won’t work.

(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: About a year ago, I met a man at work, and he introduced himself to me by telling me how beautiful I am and how much he admires me. In less than a month, I was his girlfriend. We are still together, but I have been hearing more and more rumors claiming that he said the same things to many of the women we work with. I never picked up on that before because he seemed so shy. I thought he put his nerves aside just for me, but apparently he asked out a large percentage of new hires. I guess I was the unlucky duck who gave him the time of day. He hasn't cheated on me or anything, but it's kind of embarrassing to know that this boyfriend of mine, whom I am so proud of, was behaving so desperately before I came along. Is this a vain reason to end our relationship? I feel like a laughingstock at work now. -- Laughingstock

DEAR LAUGHINGSTOCK: If you truly love this man, suck it up and look past how you got to this place. It can be unsettling to know that you fell for a line. Believe it or not, the pressure is on for men to know what to say to get women to give them the time of day. Many men have lines that they use over and over. Like fishing, occasionally they attract someone. If your co-workers hadn't witnessed his strategy, it would never have become an issue.

I can see how this is embarrassing, but again, if you like him, forgive the shy guy for using his one line on you. It has worked out for you both!

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m struggling with my new assistant, who consistently seems distracted and disengaged at work. She rarely responds to emails or messages in a timely manner, and I often have to follow up repeatedly just to get basic updates on projects she’s responsible for. Tasks that should be straightforward take much longer than expected, and it’s starting to affect team workflow and my own stress levels. I’ve tried to be patient and supportive, assuming she might be overwhelmed or adjusting, but this has become a pattern rather than an occasional lapse. I don’t want to micromanage, yet I feel like I have no choice but to constantly check in just to ensure things are moving forward. I need her to be more focused, more proactive and more accountable for her responsibilities. How do I address this without sounding harsh or discouraging? At what point do I accept that this may not be the right fit? -- Micromanager

DEAR MICROMANAGER: Schedule a meeting with your assistant to review her work. Have a list handy of tasks she is supposed to accomplish and how she is managing them. Point out the areas that you find lacking, and ask her to explain herself. Let her know that if she cannot improve in those areas, you will have to let her go. Follow company protocol, but cut your losses as soon as you can if she is not performing to your satisfaction.

(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: Recently, my daughter asked me to tell her more about my early life. Over the years, I’ve made a point not to talk much about it, but now that she’s older and asking, I think it’s OK to share. When she asked me, I started off by explaining that I’ve never told her about my past because I didn’t have a happy childhood. The words were barely out of my mouth when my husband interrupted, insisting that happiness is subjective and that I should focus on the good life I have now. I hear what he’s saying, but he does this all the time. He accuses me of complaining or being ungrateful when I’m just sharing my truth. It’s instances like these that keep me from sharing about my childhood in the first place. I love my husband. I just wish he’d give me the space to vent or mourn or cry if I need to without his voice telling me to be strong. We’ve been married for decades. Is there any hope for change? -- Be Strong

DEAR BE STRONG: You need to handle these situations separately. With your daughter, take her out for a parent-daughter date and share whatever you want to tell her about your past. It’s OK to reveal hard truths about what you’ve gone through in your life. If possible, give context so you show her how your life has evolved from whatever happened, but don’t sugarcoat the truth.

With your husband, have a separate conversation and stand up for yourself. Let him know it bothers you when he interrupts you when you are sharing your truth. Make it clear that you believe your life experience is valid, and you do not appreciate him shutting you down.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I have been dating long-distance for two years, and lately we’ve been talking about marriage and the future. I love where I live; I have my own home and a good job. He lives back home and has a job that he loves as well. Recently, it’s been a point of contention because he wants me to move back to our hometown so we can focus on the future together. While I understand everything he’s saying, I feel attached to everything I’ve built. He says relationships require sacrifice, but I can’t help wondering why the sacrifice feels one-sided. I don’t want to stall our future, but I also don’t want to resent him -- or myself -- down the line. How do I know when compromise becomes self-erasure? -- Figuring Out Our Future

DEAR FIGURING OUT OUR FUTURE: Your boyfriend is right: Relationships require sacrifice. You two will need to determine what sacrifices you are willing to make. If moving is a sticking point, you may be at a crossroads. I can tell you that I have met happily married couples who live in different states but see each other regularly. Anything is possible. In your case, though, it sounds like you will have to make a decision, and one of you will need to move -- or move on.

(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.)