DEAR HARRIETTE: My son is a junior in college. He has just come home for the summer, and I see that he has picked up some bad habits. He used to keep his room tidy and help out around the house. Now, he sleeps late, doesn’t tidy at all and is generally kind of grumpy. I’m worried that something happened while he was away at school that has changed his outlook on life. I’m not sure how to get him to open up, though. As children grow up, they rarely want to talk about what’s really going on. What can I do? -- Worried, Madison, Wisconsin
DEAR WORRIED: Start by talking to your son over a meal. Ask him how he’s doing and how the school year went for him. Gently probe to learn if he met any new friends, or if there is a special someone in his life. You may need a few of these conversations before you get any leads.
Meanwhile, remind him of the things you expect him to do at home. He hasn’t lived there for a while, so a refresher may be needed. Ease into living together again as the summer unfolds.
(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.)