DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother expects me to call her every single day. My schedule is not predictable, and I have never been one to do the same thing day in and day out. I love my mother, but I’m never going to be able to live up to this expectation. I want to show her how much I love her and want to be there for her. How can I do that in a way that I can maintain? Anything that has to happen every single day is not going to work. -- Loving My Mama, Boston
DEAR LOVING MY MAMA: Your mother knows you, so it’s likely that she understands what your limits are. A compromise could be a weekly call at a particular day and time that works for both of you. This gives her a specific time to look forward to and you less of a strict commitment to fulfill. Set an alarm on your clock or watch to ensure that you fulfill this weekly engagement.
(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.)