DEAR READERS AND LETTER WRITERS: This holiday season has been unlike any most of us have ever known. Traditions have had to be abandoned or creatively revised. Much-anticipated visits have been cancelled or put on indefinite hold. Grandparents will be missing first Christmases with new grandbabies. What may be last Christmases will be observed in solitude. None of this is easy, but hopefully, things will get back to a more normal state in 2021; and as generally happens, in a few years’ time, much of what has been endured will become stories to share with those too young to remember or yet to be born.

To all my readers (even the grouches!), letter writers, and their loved ones, I send best wishes for a Merry Christmas, and prayers for a brighter New Year.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I know it seems to be pretty standard these days for everyone to blab about their sex lives, especially younger people. But I am just not at all comfortable having my daughters talking to me about theirs. If they needed relationship advice or emotional support over a new relationship or the end of one, I’m there. It’s the bedroom details I just am squeamish about, and I’m afraid if I shut down the conversations about that, they’ll think I am not available for the kind of talks I am more than willing to have with them.

How do I draw the line without closing the door? --- TMI SUFFERER

DEAR TMI SUFFERER: Since your daughters apparently have no issues being completely candid with you, then it might be your turn to clearly and directly let them know your feelings about your comfort level when it comes to discussing details about their sex lives.

As you say, young people are used to sharing just about every detail of their life, but as a parent, you’re well within your rights to set limits and still be there for your daughters as a comforter and sounding board.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I was told by a mutual friend that a good friend of mine has gotten back together with the boyfriend who cheated on her at least twice, that she knows of, during the last time they were together. They were a childhood sweetheart story and sometime between their getting engaged and when they were supposed to get married, he felt the need to sleep with someone else “before it was too late”.

That was nearly a year ago and she kicked him to the curb, which I think was the best thing she ever did. Now I hear she is back with him, and I know why I heard it from someone else. She is too scared to tell me because she knows what I will say. I am not even sure I want to see her for a while, because I know I will tell her exactly how I feel about this guy, even though I have known him since we were all kids.

I know I will get over this, but how do I avoid losing a good friend until I can cool down enough to be calm around her when the topic of her and her ex getting back together comes up? --- DON’T WANT TO EXPLODE

DEAR DON’T WANT TO EXPLODE: I understand your desire to avoid a confrontation that isn’t likely to have a very happy ending, but it might be better to get your feelings briefly and civilly out in the open. Maybe you could tell your friend you heard she’s back with her ex, and that since she already knows your take on the matter, you need to avoid it until you can digest this new development. However, you’d be glad to talk to her about other topics, just not this one right now.

Given this guy’s past performance, it might also not be a bad idea to keep tabs on her through your mutual friends, and if history repeats itself, hopefully your friend can rely on you to be there for her — minus any I-told-you-so gloating.