DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend got married last year in Peru. She and her husband invited family only, wanting to keep the wedding small due to budget. When she told me I wasn't invited, I tried to be supportive. I sent a gift, congratulated her and told myself not to take it personally. My fiance and I are getting married this year, and we have been saving like crazy so we can have a large wedding. Part of me doesn't want to invite my best friend because I wasn't invited to her wedding. We have been friends for more than 30 years -- since we were little girls -- so I couldn't believe an exception wasn't made for me. I keep thinking: If I wasn't important enough to make the cut for her wedding, why should she automatically have a seat at mine?

I know weddings aren't tit-for-tat, but I can't shake the feeling of being excluded during one of the biggest moments of her life. Am I justified in feeling like if I wasn't part of her special day, she doesn't need to be part of mine? -- Uninvited

DEAR UNINVITED: It sounds like you already know you are being petty, but you can still talk to her. Tell her how hurt you remain about her decision to exclude you and what you are grappling with for your own wedding. Allow this to be an opportunity to clear the air. Her decision probably involved other people. Whether it was right or wrong, it happened. What do you want for your friendship moving forward? Work toward meeting that goal.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a single mother of one, a son who is going to college this year. Over the years, my son and I have built a strong and open relationship that fosters healthy communication. As every parent understands, there will come a day where I am not privy to every aspect of his life, and he must make his own decisions. I trust his decision-making skills since he hasn't done anything to make me question his judgment; however, it is hard to let go of my child at any age.

As he goes to college, I want to give him enough space to grow and evolve into his young-adult self, but I want to maintain an open line, too. How would you advise I avoid becoming a helicopter parent while still providing relevant support and wisdom? -- Growing Up

DEAR GROWING UP: Let your son know that you will always be there for him as a sounding board and a support. Remind him that he is moving into a new phase in his life where he will begin to make decisions for himself. Suggest that he remember the values you have instilled in him. Encourage him to evaluate the options before him at every major crossroads and consider what choice is in alignment with his beliefs. Remind him that when he's in doubt, he can always contact you to run an idea by you. Don't baby him. Point out that you have instilled fundamental values and beliefs in him that should guide his steps. Now is the time for him to use those tools. Of course he will make mistakes -- we all do. If he continues to listen to the voice inside that is reminding him of what appropriate behavior is, he should be OK.

If you can coach him like this rather than constantly telling him exactly what to do, you will learn to let go and not be a helicopter parent.

(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've been married to my husband for just over a year now, and I have been starting to get annoyed with how nice he is. Yes, I know that sounds crazy, but it's getting to a point where I am finally starting to see just how much he lets his family, friends and even strangers walk all over him. For example, his sister constantly asks him for favors like rides to the airport at 4 a.m., help moving apartments and last-minute babysitting, and he always says yes, even when we already have plans. He'll apologize to me for canceling, but he never tells her no. At first, I thought this was just him being kind, and I admired that, but now I'm starting to feel like he is unable to set boundaries.

It's beginning to affect our marriage. I sometimes feel like I come second to everyone else's needs. I also worry that one day this will turn into resentment, either toward the people taking advantage of him or toward me for pointing it out. When I try to bring this issue up to him, he tells me that I am being selfish and that it's important that he can be there for the people in his life. Am I being too critical? Is this just a difference in personality, or is it reasonable to want your spouse to have stronger boundaries? -- Drawing the Line

DEAR DRAWING THE LINE: Sit down with your husband and point out that it looks like he is so busy being there for other people that he is not putting your marriage first. Tell him you appreciate his generosity and support for his family, but you think it is disproportionate to his own needs and personal life. Tell him that being able to have boundaries does not make him a bad person. Instead, it gives him space to live his own life fully, to have control over his time and to be there for his marriage as he also supports loved ones. Ask him to reconsider his position on this matter.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Something is wrong with me, and I can't seem to let go. I was dating a guy for about a year, and I really liked him. Some things happened, and he broke it off. I keep looking at his social media posts, and I sometimes go to the places where we used to go to try to spot him. I have texted him recently, but he no longer responds. How can I stop thinking about him and reaching out? It's kind of pathetic, but I can't seem to stop. -- Let Go

DEAR LET GO: What is drawing you to him? You say he broke it off. Why? What happened, and why can't you accept that it is over? You see that he is unresponsive, so he isn't doing anything to encourage your attention. Perhaps it is hard for you to accept rejection.

Consider going to therapy to talk through this situation. Something deeper may be at work in your psyche that you need to address. Talk with a professional about this situation and your life in general, and work to come to an understanding of what keeps you interested in someone who is no longer interested in you.

(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 husband and I have decided that we don't want to have kids. There are many reasons that I won't get into, but we believe it's best for us. The issue is that both sets of parents really want us to have kids. We have been married for two years, and they have started asking about it all the time. We are both so annoyed that we told them that we have been trying for a year now with no success. This isn't the truth, but we have reached a breaking point.

Since we made this "confession," everything has changed. Instead of casual questions, we're now getting sympathy. My mother-in-law sends articles about fertility specialists. My own mom has offered to pay for treatments. They speak to us with this tone of sadness that makes me feel terrible. We've essentially created a false narrative that we're struggling with infertility, and I know that's not something to take lightly. At the same time, I don't feel ready to have the "we're never having kids" conversation. I know it will disappoint them, and I'm not prepared for the emotional fallout. I also worry that they'll think we're depriving them of something they've always dreamed of. Now I feel stuck. Do we come clean and admit that we lied just to stop the pressure? -- No Kids

DEAR NO KIDS: It is early in your marriage, and you do not know what the future holds. I hadn't planned to have children and had the same thing happen to me -- my family pestered me all the time about it. My husband's grandmother gave us a baby-themed picture frame for our first wedding anniversary. The hints were loud. We ignored them. After a while, their entreaties quieted. In the end -- for us -- we got pregnant without planning it and had a child after being married for 10 years. That turned out to be an amazing blessing. Whatever happens for you will be your life -- with or without children.

I recommend that you talk to your families and tell them that you have decided you are not going to have children at this point. Thank them for their love and care. Ask them to stop asking you about it and let you live your lives. Then do just that. Build a life of love together with whatever and whomever that entails.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a small staff, and we work hard. One staff member has been slacking for months, not doing some parts of her job, which is making it a burden for others. Recently, my most reliable employee dropped the ball on something and didn't even apologize. I think the other employee's behavior is rubbing off on her. How can I rebuild morale at a time when I have no extra money? -- Worried

DEAR WORRIED: Ask the slacker what's going on that has prompted a marked reduction in productivity and accountability. Point out that her behavior is impacting others. Listen to learn the reason behind the behavioral change. Also speak to the other employee and ask what's going on. Thank your employees for their loyalty and hard work, and ask them to renew their commitment. Promise to do your best to support them. If the slacker continues to underproduce, look for a replacement. One bad employee can poison the whole team.

(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.)