DEAR HARRIETTE: I love my mom, but I just can’t trust her with any sensitive information. Every time I share something personal or private, she turns around and tells my family, her friends and even acquaintances, and it’s incredibly frustrating. For example, I’ll confide in her about something going on in my life, and the next time I see a relative or one of her friends, they’ll start asking me about it. It’s awkward and upsetting because it’s often information I never wanted these people to know. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve had to become selective about what I share with my mother. I hate feeling like I have to filter everything I say or keep her at a distance just to maintain my privacy. I’m 29 years old, and I feel like I should be able to have a trusting relationship with my mom where I can share things without worrying that she’ll broadcast it to everyone. I don’t know how to get her to stop doing this without hurting her feelings or creating a bigger issue between us. I don’t want to completely shut her out, but I also need to protect my personal boundaries. How do I address this with her in a way that will get her to understand why I’m upset? -- Can’t Keep a Secret

DEAR CAN’T KEEP A SECRET: There is no gentle way to handle this. You have to be direct with your mother. Tell her that you have discovered that when you share confidences with her, she consistently tells other people, and you consider this to be a violation of trust. Explain that you love her and want her counsel and just to have her as a safe space to vent, but you fear that whatever you tell her will not be kept in confidence. Give her a couple of examples of things you have told her that have come back to you from specific people so that she knows what you’re talking about.

She will surely apologize profusely and promise never to violate your privacy again. The reality, though, is that she probably will because it’s who she is. This means that in the future, you should refrain from telling her anything that you truly want to be kept confidential.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend “Nina” and her boyfriend had a baby while they both were underage. They fought against their parents to stay together and protect their love. However, the boyfriend eventually had an affair with another girl. Despite this, Nina’s parents now want her to give the relationship another chance. Nina, on the other hand, is hesitant because she feels he has hurt her many times. The boyfriend has even said he won’t support their child unless she takes him back. What should Nina do? -- Broken Trust

DEAR BROKEN TRUST: Young love with a baby can be tough to navigate. While Nina should not feel she has to tolerate infidelity, she may want to give the relationship a second chance -- with certain boundaries in place. She and her baby’s father should talk through their issues and think about the future of their child and their relationship. If they can establish ground rules to follow, Nina can give him a chance. If not, she may need to take him to court to provide for their child if they are apart.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions toaskharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am still friends with my high school besties, “Erica” and “Celine.” Erica became a registered nurse and moved abroad for work, while Celine is working in Dubai and enjoying a good life, even though she hasn't finished college. I have a master's degree in business administration, but I'm currently unemployed and waiting for responses from the jobs I applied for. I'm also overweight and feeling like there's no progress in my life. What advice can you give me to avoid feeling jealous and instead be happy for what they have achieved in their lives? -- Stagnant Frustration

DEAR STAGNANT FRUSTRATION: Stop comparing yourself to your friends. Each of you has your own life filled with potential and frustration. Their lives look exciting to you from the outside -- and they may be. But your life is your own, and it is your job to design it as best you can.

It can be extremely challenging to stay positive when you are unemployed. It sounds like you are feeling stuck. To keep up your spirits and care for yourself, consider starting some kind of exercise routine. Taking a walk each day could help clear your head and motivate your brain to think outside the box. What do you really want to do with your life? Think big and then write down ideas for manifesting those dreams. Give yourself a timeline for reaching goals. This can help you stay inspired in this space of uncertainty.

Do your best to drown out the noise of comparison. Focus on your potential, and talk to people who are your cheerleaders.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in love with a boy who has been courting me for a long time, but we come from different religions. In my faith, it's important for my partner to join our church, and he initially agreed to attend with me. However, I’ve realized that his main reason for going is to be with me, not out of genuine interest in my beliefs. Now I feel torn because I love him deeply, but I don’t want him to convert just for my sake. I want him to believe in my faith for his own reasons, not as a condition of our relationship. Letting him go feels painful, but I also worry about the spiritual differences that could cause problems in the future. Should I choose him and hope things work out, or is it better to let him go? -- Faith Conflict

DEAR FAITH CONFLICT: You seem to be getting what you asked for. You love this person, and he loves you enough to join your faith. Obviously, it will take time for him to become fully immersed in your spiritual world. If you want to be with him, welcome him and have patience. Will he ever be as ensconced as you? Who knows. But you can’t ask more of him than what he’s doing. He is making the effort to be in alignment with your values. Be grateful for that, and help him to find his comfort zone. Also, be ready to accept that he may never be as involved as you. That may be just fine.

(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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 9-year-old daughter recently went over to her friend’s house for a playdate. She was so excited to spend time with her friend, and everything seemed fine when I dropped her off. However, when I went to pick her up, her friend’s mom pulled me aside and made a comment that really caught me off guard. She criticized my parenting style, specifically how my daughter behaved at dinner. Apparently, my daughter didn’t finish all of the food on her plate, and the mom felt that was incredibly rude and a sign of poor manners. She went on to say that in their household, children are expected to eat everything they’re served and suggested I should be more strict at home to instill better manners in my child.

I was honestly shocked. My daughter is generally polite, but like most kids, she can be picky sometimes -- especially when she’s at someone else’s house. I’ve never forced her to eat food she doesn’t like, and I don’t see this as a major issue. I was taken aback by the mom’s approach and felt judged, but I didn’t know how to respond in the moment. Was this mom out of line, or am I missing something about how my daughter should behave when she’s a guest in someone’s home? -- Bad Behavior

DEAR BAD BEHAVIOR: In my estimation, this friend’s mom crossed the line. While it is perfectly normal for families to have their ways of doing things -- including how they eat at the table -- when you have a guest, it is good manners to give them grace. Had your daughter misbehaved by saying something rude, physically hurting someone, cursing or doing something else egregious, I could see why the mom would need to call you out on it. But reprimanding you because your child didn’t eat every morsel on her plate seems extreme.

People have different values and ways of living. This is something your daughter will learn throughout her life. Your job now is to reinforce your values and let her know that she hasn’t violated a family rule by not eating all of the food on her plate. Further, you can tell the mother that, while you appreciate that she felt that she had to inform you of your daughter’s behavior, you strongly disagree with her. In your home, you do not force food down your daughter’s throat.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister was scratched by a stray cat. When I found out, I urged her to get the anti-rabies vaccine immediately. However, she refused, insisting it was just a minor scratch. I explained the importance of getting the vaccine as a precaution, but she didn’t think it was necessary. I reminded her of the potential risks, especially when dealing with stray animals. Despite my concerns, she continues to brush it off. Now, I’m at a loss because I’ve said everything I can to convince her. I just want her to stay safe. Please advise. -- Risk Ignored

DEAR RISK AVOIDED: My research suggests that the most important thing your sister should have done was to clean the wound and apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, followed by monitoring the wound to see if it is healing or needs further attention. Apparently, both tetanus and rabies are rare in cat scratches, though it is possible to be impacted by whatever germs the cat is carrying. Encourage your sister to monitor her wound. If it gets worse, go to the doctor. For more information, go to animalreport.net/stray-cat-scratch-safety-guide.

(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.)