DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Even before the pandemic, my husband wasn’t thrilled with the thought of my getting a job, even a part-time one. We have a one-year-old son, and right now no plans for another baby anytime soon.

For the first few months, I was totally happy being home with our baby full-time, but now I feel like I need to both get out of the house at least a few hours a week, and also have some money that I can contribute to our expenses.

My mom lives ten minutes away and said she would be happy to help with babysitting, and my mother-in-law said she would volunteer for back-up if there are days my mom can’t do it. I honestly don’t see any issues, but my husband keeps discouraging me. I know I have to wait a little bit longer for the world to be more normal, but do you think I am wrong to want to get out and be more help to our finances? --- NEED JUST A LITTLE JOB

DEAR NEED JUST A LITTLE JOB: Except for the current state of things, especially the job market, I don’t see anything wrong with what you’re hoping to do. However, you didn’t share why your husband doesn’t want you working, and his concerns need to be taken into account.

It might be he’s worried about a disruption of your home life, or that the childcare will fall on him. Whatever his concerns, you need to address them with solid, well-thought out responses.

Also, never discount the importance of holding down a home and anchoring a family. Either one can be a full-time job in itself. It may not seem like it, but providing your own childcare alone is a huge savings over the course of a year.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Having grown up in the 60s and 70s, I hardly consider myself old-fashioned, but when my daughter announced a “buddy” of hers from work was moving into her apartment, I began thinking maybe I’m more like my father than I want to admit.

She has only known her coworker less than a year. She tells me he has a girlfriend, and my daughter has been seeing someone for a few months now. I thought she and her boyfriend were doing really well, but I am having trouble seeing how this new living arrangement bodes well for their continuing as a couple.

Here’s where I sound like my dad when I say I have serious doubts about men and women living together as “just roommates”. Have I crossed the dateline into old fogeyism? --- A MAYBE NOT SO COOL DAD

DEAR A MAYBE NOT SO COOL DAD: You may not be an old fogey, at least not yet, but you do need to give your daughter credit for having good reasons to accept her male coworker as her new roommate. It isn’t all that unusual of an arrangement. For decades now I’ve heard of men and women living successfully together simply as roommates.

Any objections or concerns your daughter’s boyfriend and her roommate’s girlfriend have are between the couples and up to them to resolve.

Bottom-line, Dad, this is not your rodeo.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Our school system went to distance learning in March. It was a disaster to start, but got a little better about a month into it.

The district is going to continue with on-line school until at least November.

My husband and I live with four of our grandkids and our son, who works for the highway administration. He works a lot of nights and weekends, so we are with the kids more than he is. The kids are all school age, and when we first moved in, it wasn’t too bad helping with them. We take over for our son when he’s working, and are used to helping with homework. But like so many out there these days, we didn’t sign on to be their full-time teaching assistants. We had less trouble getting the hang of the on-line technical stuff than we do understanding and supporting them with some of their subjects. We do okay with social studies and what they now call language arts, and for the younger kids the science isn’t bad. But the math, the way they present it to the kids now, is way out of our league, and my husband is a retired engineer!

I guess this is part venting and part my wanting to hear from some of the people who comment here about how they’re handling this distance learning. --- CAN’T MAKE THE MATH ADD UP

DEAR CAN’T MAKE THE MATH ADD UP: To say, “I hear you,” is an understatement. When our oldest child was in elementary school and I was working with her on long division, she announced I was no longer allowed to help her with her math homework.

I know that since our local school system shut down due to the pandemic, they’ve posted a variety of links to help the adults who suddenly find themselves teaching assistants. But for those who are working from home, are not tech-savvy or confident, or who may not be fluent in English, the task has got to be daunting.

If you haven’t yet, check out your school system’s website to see if there’s anything you missed or that’s been added for the new school year. You may find many of your concerns have been addressed. If not, once things start up, you can reach out to the kids’ teachers directly to voice your concerns and ask for help.

Like you, I’m curious to see what helpful suggestions some of my readers can offer.