DEAR HARRIETTE: I met this lovely guy ... or so I thought. We met at a group gathering with mutual friends, and by the end of the night, the two of us were tucked away in our own corner. That same night, he texted me and asked if he could see me again at the end of the week. He sent a restaurant and a time and asked if that was OK with my taste and schedule. I agreed. Over the next few days, he texted and called me, and we had good conversations. It all felt so intentional.

On the night of our plans, I texted him to say I was on my way -- no response. When I arrived, I asked for a reservation in his name or mine -- neither existed. I called him again and got no answer. Since I was already out and dressed up, I decided to dine alone and give him the benefit of the doubt. The next day, he continued posting normally on social media and still has not issued an apology or even an excuse. What is the meaning of this? What would make someone show such deep interest just to stand me up? -- Table for One

DEAR TABLE FOR ONE: He sounds like a stalker or at least a manipulator. Perhaps it’s good that it ended before it started. Some behavior doesn’t make sense. While it was confusing and hurtful, don’t belabor this moment. Good for you that you took yourself out and had a nice meal. You were smart not to let him derail you. At the same time, it can make it hard to trust someone on a basic level when you have been ghosted for no apparent reason.

It sounds like you did all the right things. Maybe in the future if someone doesn’t confirm plans, don’t go.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom can be moody, and when she’s in a bad space, it affects the entire household. This week, especially, she’s been off, giving me the silent treatment or speaking to me sharply for no clear reason. What’s hardest is that once my dad comes home from work, her mood suddenly shifts. She’s warm and upbeat with him, which makes it seem like I’m the one being difficult or withdrawn. I feel stuck carrying the emotional weight of her bad days, and it’s starting to wear on me. I’ve considered telling my dad what’s been happening, but I worry that it will create tension or feel like I’m betraying her. At the same time, I don’t think it’s fair to quietly absorb this behavior and let it affect my joy. How do I protect my emotional well-being in a household where moods change so dramatically? Is telling my dad the right step or would it make things worse? -- Moody Mom

DEAR MOODY MOM: You should talk to your father about your mother’s behavior. You should not have to carry the burden of this on your own. Explain to him what has been happening, and ask for help. Tell him how hard it is for you to weather her bad days -- especially in contrast to how she perks up when he arrives at the end of the day.

Your mother might need medical attention. Perhaps your father can convince her to go to the doctor.

(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 am 40 years old, and I haven’t been able to find a job in a year. I have had to move back in with my parents, and it’s been a difficult time. I used to work for a good company; I had a great career, and I was doing well financially. I got laid off at the beginning of last year, and I haven’t had any luck in finding a new role. I’ve been applying everywhere, and I’ve even made it to multiple final rounds, but they have never ended up choosing me. Each rejection feels more personal than the last, and it’s starting to wear down my confidence. I wonder if my age is working against me or if something is wrong with me that employers aren’t saying out loud.

Living with my parents again has only added to the shame I already feel, and I find myself comparing where I am now to where I thought I’d be at this stage in my life. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but some days it’s hard just to keep applying when the disappointment feels endless. How do I cope with the emotional toll of long-term unemployment, and how do I rebuild my confidence when it feels like everything I worked for has slipped away? -- Out of Work

DEAR OUT OF WORK: Too many people echo your experience right now. That means you are not alone. There are many people who are unemployed or underemployed. What can you do? Look beyond your area of expertise. What else can you do? Think about every skill you have -- including labor. You may need to work in an area that is completely different for you, or maybe something you did years ago. Get creative.

Remember that as hard as this period of unemployment is, it is probably not because of something you did wrong. The economy is tough right now. Be grateful that your parents can allow you to live with them. Some people don’t have that. Do your best to stay positive. Find little things to be grateful for.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was at a party with a woman I went to high school with but haven’t seen in years. She spent most of the evening telling everybody who would listen embarrassing stories about me as a teenager. I was so mad. We were not friends back then, but we weren’t enemies either. Why would she choose to actively make me uncomfortable? We were at a party with a lot of people I know and a couple of mutual acquaintances. Now all of these people think differently about me because she told them about me during my most awkward days. How do I survive this? I feel like I don’t want to go around them anymore. -- Backlash

DEAR BACKLASH: Most people have uncomfortable stories of their youth. Don’t become attached to whatever she said. If someone brings up one of her stories, laugh it off by saying, “High school years can be awkward.” If you don’t make a big deal out of it, chances are, nobody else will either.

(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 girlfriend and I have been together for about two years now, and we have decided that we are ready for unprotected sex. With this decision came the discussion of birth control, which we both agreed on, and STI testing, which my girlfriend insists on. When she went to her birth control consultation, she says that she got tested “so we can start off on a clean slate,” and now she expects me to do so, too. Honestly, I get tested once a year as part of my routine wellness check, but I feel a little offended about how pushy she’s being with this. We’ve been in a committed relationship for this long. If she’s healthy, why would she assume I am not? This sort of feels like a test -- either to see if I’m not healthy when she is or to see if I hesitate or refuse to take the test. Either way, this feels like a lack of trust that I didn’t know existed. Am I looking at this wrong? -- Getting Tested

DEAR GETTING TESTED: Unprotected sex requires a deep level of trust and vulnerability. Don’t be offended. It’s great how responsible you are with your health in general. Many people do not get annual checkups, and a lot of people lie about their health.

Of course you hoped you already had that level of trust with your girlfriend. Take this as an opportunity to talk about expectations, commitment and the future with her. Talk to her about your values and boundaries as well as what you hope your life will look like with her. Your girlfriend may be letting stories she has heard about other people encroach on your relationship. Sit her down and remind her of your relationship, and invite her to trust that, not any outside forces -- but also go ahead and get tested for her peace of mind.

DEAR HARRIETTE: For the past two years, I’ve been working remotely for a tech company. While I’m grateful for the flexibility, my role requires little client engagement or team interaction. Most days, I work alone in silence, with limited conversation beyond the occasional virtual meeting. Recently, I’ve noticed something deeply unsettling: I’ve developed a stutter. I used to be confident and articulate, especially in professional settings, but now I struggle to get my words out smoothly. It feels like this extended period of isolation has taken a toll on my speech and my self-esteem. I’m embarrassed by it, and it’s starting to affect my pride and how I show up in conversations. How can I rebuild my confidence and communication skills? What steps can I take to undo the effects of so much solitude before this becomes permanent? -- My New Stutter

DEAR MY NEW STUTTER: You need to get out and be around other people. Consider signing up for Toastmasters, a longstanding organization that helps people to break through their shyness and become strong public speakers and communicators. This kind of practice can help you regain your confidence. Apart from that, putting yourself into any social environment should help, as it will make you talk.

(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.)