DEAR HARRIETTE: Two months ago, I was in a serious car accident. I had the light, and a taxicab hit me. I was not able to move, and an ambulance had to take me to the hospital. The doctor told me I had broken my left hip and left leg, and he said it would take a year of rehab to get back to full strength. My husband has been very helpful with my rehab, but I can see my injuries are wearing on him. I have not been in a romantic mood since the accident. My husband would like some "quality time," and I would like him to be patient with me while I am in rehab. What should I tell him to do? -- On the Mend, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR ON THE MEND: Talk to your doctor about your condition and the status of your overall health. It could be that you are suffering from depression brought on by your condition. If so, your doctor can help you by prescribing medication to relieve you of your overall malaise.

In terms of asking your husband for patience, be straightforward with him. Tell him that your recovery has taken more of a toll on you than you imagined. Thank him for his continued understanding. While you may not be ready for full intimacy, see what you can do to comfort your husband. What would make him happy? His favorite meal? Tickets to his favorite ball game? Obviously, these things will not replace intimacy, but they can show that you care about him and are making an effort during this difficult time for you both.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Is it too late for me to go back to school to get a degree and pursue a career I would enjoy? I am 49, married and the mother of two children, ages 19 and 25. I helped raise my children, and they are all grown up. I do not know what to do because the only jobs I have ever had were in retail. My oldest child recently graduated from college, and I am not sure if I could even afford to continue my education. Where would I go to find answers about returning to school at my age, choosing a major and finding the money to pay for it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. -- Mom is Going Back to College, Chicago

DEAR MOM IS GOING BACK TO COLLEGE: Many people go to college later in life. Sometimes that turns out to be incredibly wise, as they go at a time when they are ready to pay closer attention to their studies.

There are many ways that people can receive support from the government to complete their education. Start by filling out the FAFSA form -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This will evaluate what you are eligible to receive. See studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa for details. You may also look for scholarships for adults going back to school. There is a lot of support out there for people who want to further their education. Do your research, and by all means, enroll.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I absolutely never remember my in-laws' birthdays or anniversaries. I hardly remember my own. On the other hand, they are always early sending cards and generally being perfect family members. After I realize that I missed a big day, I usually call and check in with them, but I know it must be disappointing that I never get it straight. Meanwhile, my husband doesn't remind me, nor does he call his parents on those special days. I think they consider me to be a negative influence on him. How can I become more responsible about these things? -- Slacker, Atlanta

DEAR SLACKER: Use a calendar to note all recurring special days. If you have an electronic device on which you can record these dates, all the better. Assign alarms to them so that the device will ring on the day in question, thereby forcing you to pay attention. Even if you didn't remember to send a card, you can at least call on the big day.

Shy of that, you can simply show your in-laws your love in other ways. Send cards and gifts when you think of them. Call when they are on your mind to check in and chat. What people want most is to experience love.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just got my grades back from college, and they are not good. I knew I was having a tough year, but I didn't think it was quite as bad as my grades reflect. Now I am in jeopardy of losing my scholarship. I am so scared. I don't want to tell my parents, but I have to let them know. They are paying for the difference from the scholarship, but now they may have to pay more. I don't even know if they can afford it. I know they said I shouldn't take out student loans, but I really want to finish school. I don't want to be a bad student. It was just harder than I thought this year. What can I do? -- Bad Grades, Boston

DEAR BAD GRADES: Talk to your school immediately to find out about the status of your scholarship and to see if you can take any of your exams over during the course of the summer to possibly change your grade. Ask if there are any summer classes that you can take that would help you to strengthen your skills in any of the subject areas where you feel weak. Finally, ask the school to work with you to help to get you back on track. You need to prove to them that you are serious about your education.

Talk to your parents and let them know about your grades as well as about your proactivity regarding keeping your scholarship and upping your academic performance. Ask them for their support and guidance in navigating this difficult period. Be frank and talk to them about money. If you do lose your scholarship, you need to come up with a plan about how you will afford to complete your education.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started an exercise regimen that my doctor recommended. I walk about five miles a day. I am really getting into it now. I got a pedometer to count my steps because my doctor told me that I should walk at least 10,000 steps a day. I am building up to that, and generally I feel pretty good about myself. Now that the weather is nice, I have been walking at the neighborhood track and in the park, which is nice. I was talking to some friends the other day and told them what I've been doing. One of them started laughing at me. She said I would never reach any fitness goal with just walking. She then proceeded to tell me all about the workout that she does and why I should do that. I don't doubt that her extremely rigorous workout would whip anyone into shape. She's so buff, but I am not ready to do her routine. I have a lot of weight to lose, and I want to follow my doctor's plan and stick to it for a change. How can I get my friends, especially this one, to understand where I am and be supportive even if I am not ready to step it up to their level? -- Stepping Up, Seattle

DEAR STEPPING UP: Give yourself a lot of credit for starting an exercise program that your doctor says is best for you. What's most important is that you develop discipline around it so that you will stick to it no matter what. Walking, by the way, is excellent for the body -- no matter whether you are overweight or perfectly toned.

As far as your friends go, if they are not encouraging you, stop telling them what you are doing. Stay laser-focused on your goals. Pay attention to the other people you see who are walking. You may want to identify a buddy who is already doing a regular walk to be a support. If you find someone you like, you could talk about meeting up at the track at particular times. Or you could just chat about each other's goals and accomplishments when you see each other. That may be where you find outside encouragement.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband constantly berates me over every little thing. One of his favorite questions to me is "What's the matter with you?" He asks that with a sneer in his voice whenever I don't follow his line of thinking or if I don't know something that he thinks is obvious. I realize that I do not have thick skin about this. It hurts my feelings, and every time I say something to him about it, he shrugs it off, saying that I am too sensitive. How can I get him to see my side? -- Fed Up, Chicago

DEAR FED UP: Start taping your conversations, using your smartphone or another recording device. When you capture him speaking to you in that way, tell him you want him to listen to something. Make sure that you have a good example, so that it can be obvious to him how he is communicating with you. After he listens, ask him if he can hear his tone and imagine why it might upset you. Hearing himself may be the wakeup call he needs.