DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in my early 40s, and I plan to remarry in the next five years. I think I would like for my future wife and me to live in separate residences. I am very particular about how I plan to live the rest of my life, and I do not want to change for anyone. Do you think any woman would consider that as an option? -- My Way or the Highway, Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY: Your plan sounds more theoretical than actual. Is there a woman in your life now whom you want to marry? Also, what went wrong in your previous marriage?

I suggest that you do a personal inventory to determine what worked and what didn't work in your previous marriage. Assess the view looking forward: What do you want in a marriage, and what are you willing to compromise in order to make a marriage work? This doesn't mean that you can't find a woman who will marry you and live separately. Some people do that. But you need to get to the bottom of what you actually want and need. Why do you want to get married? What does marriage mean to you if it doesn't include living under one roof?

Do some soul searching. Make a list of what you want in a partner, and then look around to see if you can meet someone who fits your heart's description. Even if you do, trust that you will have to make some adjustments in order to welcome someone into your life.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I think I'm feeling jealous of a friend of mine who is a whole lot closer to the man I have a crush on than I am. They hang out together way more -- strictly as friends. They do live nearer each other, but still. I feel like he enjoys spending time with her more than with me. It's not her fault, but I can't figure out what to do to make him see me or like me. We have known each other for a long time, and we are friends. I really want to make this more than a platonic relationship; I want him to be my man. How can I get him to see that? And how can I get my friend out of the way? -- Longing for Love, St. Louis

DEAR LONGING FOR LOVE: You say you have been friends with this man for years and that he chooses to spend time with your friend rather than you. Sounds like he is not trying to date you. If you have never let him know of your interest, you can tell him when you are face-to-face and ask him if he would like to try and see what might happen if you two became a couple.

If you have already let him know, it's time for you to accept that he doesn't like you in that way. Acceptance is key to happiness. You cannot force someone to want to be in a relationship with you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm worried that my son is going to turn out to be a player. He's only 18, but already he has had multiple girlfriends at the same time, broken several hearts and smiled about it. I really don't like this behavior. He is charming, much like his dad used to be, and is turning out to be bad news for girls. As his mother, I don't want to sit around and watch him turn into a regular old lothario. How can I get him to curb his behavior? His dad does nothing but egg him on when he hears about his antics. That's part of the reason why I divorced him. He didn't see the value in a monogamous marriage. I want my son to share my values. Help! -- Playboy's Mom, Los Angeles

DEAR PLAYBOY'S MOM: You can continue to reinforce your values to your son. Talk to him about his behavior and how it affects those around him. Ask him if he really thinks it is OK to hurt women's feelings, to lead them on and to date more than one person at a time. As he answers, talk openly with him about his beliefs and counter with yours. Describe to him how women feel when they believe a boyfriend duped them.

If you are clear that he is going to be a so-called "lothario," suggest that he be honest with his dates and let them know up front that he is not the monogamous type. At least then they will know what they are getting into.

If at all possible, talk to his father about resisting the temptation to encourage his disrespectful behavior.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend broke her arm recently so she can't go to the gym or play or anything. Now that the weather is nice, my friends and I like to go to the park and ride bikes. I feel bad that she can't participate. A group of us are planning to go to the park this weekend, and I don't know if I should even invite my best friend. I don't want her to feel bad when we are playing. But on the other hand, she might enjoy just being with us. What do you think I should do? -- Friend in Need, Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR FRIEND IN NEED: Chances are your friend will be very happy to be invited to join the rest of you in the park. You can set up an area for a picnic that can be location central where she can be when you are doing something she cannot do.

As a good friend, you can periodically go and hang out with her. You two can walk around or sit and talk. Your other friends may want to do the same. Being together is what's important. By all means do invite her, and then remember her when you are at the park!

DEAR HARRIETTE: My next-door neighbor has two young children who play the violin. I don't mind listening to them practice during the day if I'm at home -- it's sweet to know that they are learning an instrument. It stops being sweet, though, when the playing extends way into the night. The other day, these two kids were bowing those strings at around 11 p.m. on a Wednesday night. I thought that was way too much.

I don't want to be the nasty neighbor, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that loud music -- even when it's live -- should stop before 11. What do you think? And should I say anything about it? -- Sensitive to Sound, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENSITIVE TO SOUND: You have mentioned only an isolated incident when you heard the children playing very late. Who knows why they were playing at that time? Perhaps they were playing for guests or for some other one-time reason. If late-night playing becomes a habit for them, that's when you can speak to the parents and request that they end their playing a little earlier on weeknights. Otherwise, just take a deep breath and be grateful that the violins are not drums!

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 15-year-old daughter just informed me that she thinks she contracted a sexually transmitted disease. I could not believe my ears. I didn't even know that she was sexually active -- and I wouldn't call myself naive. We have talked about sexual activity, protection, our values -- the whole nine yards -- for years. Anyhow, she learned she might have this from the boy she had sex with who told her he had it. I suppose we should be grateful that he said something, but OMG, what are we going to do? Do we go to her pediatrician about this? I'm embarrassed to tell him, but she doesn't have a gynecologist yet. I am mortified. What should I do? -- Shamed by STD, Syracuse, N.Y.

DEAR SHAMED BY STD: Your job as your daughter's parent is to get her immediate medical care. Ideally, you should go to a pediatrician who knows her health history. If you feel too uncomfortable to do that, you can go to one of those urgent care facilities where your daughter can be tested and she can receive whatever treatment is deemed necessary.

Be sure to tell the doctor that you visit what STD the boy says he has contracted so that they definitely test for that as well as the rest of the STDs, including HIV. Then follow up with your pediatrician at some point to update your daughter's chart. Further, since she is sexually active, it is time to go to a gynecologist. Find one who works with teenagers and who can help you educate your daughter about safer sexual behavior. While you may not want your daughter to continue to be sexually active, you probably cannot control that, so your job now is to guide her to be as responsible as possible. For support in talking to your daughter about sex, visit plannedparenthood.org/parents/talking-kids-about-sex-sexuality-37962.htm.