DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a new mother, and I feel like I can’t do anything right. I just had a baby boy, and while I love him more than anything, the adjustment to motherhood has been painful and difficult for me. It seems like no matter how hard I try, I’m always falling short, whether it’s soothing my baby when he cries, keeping up with housework or even finding time to take care of myself.

My husband has been a wonderful help throughout this process. He’s truly a great father; he’s always there to change diapers, cook meals or give me time to rest. Even with his support, I find myself constantly snapping at him for no reason. Sometimes he’ll say something as simple as, “Can I help you?” and I’ll lose my temper, even though I know he means well. Afterward, I feel terrible for being so short with him because I know he’s doing his best to support me.

I feel like I’m stuck in a cycle of guilt, frustration and exhaustion, and it’s starting to take a toll on our relationship. I want to be a better partner to him and a more confident mother for my son, but I’m not sure how to manage these emotions or where to start. Is it normal to feel this way, or am I doing something wrong? -- New Mom Blues

DEAR NEW MOM BLUES: Many new moms suffer from feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and short-tempered. Ironically, the easiest solutions can be the most difficult to achieve. Why? Well, if you can sleep more, carve out some quiet time and stay calm, all will be better -- but you know how hard it is to find those things. For now, apologize to your husband for your shortness. Tell him how tough things are for you, and thank him for his partnership. Schedule naps whenever you can. Be sure to visit your doctor. You may have postpartum depression, for which there is treatment. Trust that things will get better.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My close friend constantly seeks my advice about the same relationship problems, but she never follows through on my suggestions. It’s becoming a pattern that’s frustrating and exhausting for me. While I care deeply about her and want to support her, it’s starting to feel like I’m wasting my time and energy. I find myself dreading these conversations because I already know how they’ll play out. At the same time, I don’t want to seem dismissive or uncaring by turning her away when she reaches out.

I want to set healthy boundaries with my friend, but I’m worried about hurting her feelings or damaging our friendship. How can I communicate my frustration in a way that is honest yet compassionate? I want to maintain our connection, but I need to protect my own emotional well-being. -- Advice Fatigue

DEAR ADVICE FATIGUE: Next time your friend comes to you for advice, tell her you have nothing more to add to what you've already advised. Remind her that you are not a professional, and you realize that you have not been helping her with the ideas you have offered. Recommend that she go to a therapist.

(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: When I got pregnant later than expected, people started asking why it took my husband and me so long to have a baby. Soon, many began offering their opinions, suggesting that we should have more children. I feel overwhelmed by all the comments, especially since they don’t understand our situation. It’s as if they think they have the right to decide what’s best for our family. We are still figuring things out and aren’t ready to make any decisions about adding more children just yet. I don’t know how to respond without seeming rude or dismissive. How can I politely tell them that it’s our choice, and they aren’t the ones who will decide what’s best for us? -- Unwanted Opinions

DEAR UNWANTED OPINIONS: People always have opinions about others’ lives, especially when it comes to children. For some reason, they feel they have the right to share their views with others. This does not mean that you have to accept their thoughts or always bite your tongue when those opinions are offered.

The next time someone begins to tell you what they think you should do in your family planning, stop them. Interrupt and firmly say something like this: “Thank you for wanting to share your opinion on this matter, but we are fine, and we are making decisions on our own.” Then pivot. Walk away. Change the subject. If they persist, tell them you are not interested in discussing this with them. This is a private, personal matter that you will not talk about.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been married for over a decade, and we own and run a family business, which means we spend nearly every waking moment together. We handle the stress and demands of the business, and then go home together every evening. At first it felt like a bonding experience, and we were excited about building something together. As time has gone on, though, the constant togetherness is starting to put a strain on our relationship. Lately, we’ve found ourselves bickering over minor things, and it seems as though we’re losing the romantic, personal connection we once had. It feels as if the business has consumed so much of our lives that we rarely get a chance to step back and enjoy being a couple. Sometimes it’s hard to separate our roles as business partners from our roles as husband and wife. We’re both committed to the business and want it to succeed, but we also want to protect and nurture our marriage. How can we find a healthier balance between our work lives and our personal lives so we can reconnect and enjoy each other’s company again without the business always intruding? -- Too Close

DEAR TOO CLOSE: Sounds like you both need hobbies or other activities that give you time away from each other. There’s nothing wrong with that. Consider taking classes or assuming other extracurricular engagements that will take you away from each other for a few hours a week. It will give you time to express yourselves and be alone.

You may also want to plan a vacation together. Choose a location that you both will enjoy where you can relax and not think about work. This may help reignite some passion in your relationship.

(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: I am a 60-year-old mother of two adult sons, ages 38 and 32. Both of them are completely dependent on my husband and me for financial support. My husband and I have always been relatively well-off, and we never hesitated to provide them with everything they needed and wanted as they grew up. I felt it was a way to show our love and support, but now I fear we may have enabled them to the point that it’s affecting their ability to stand on their own two feet. Currently, both sons are unemployed, and they seem to rely on us for nearly all their expenses, from rent to bills -- even spending money. This dependency has put a strain on our relationship with them and with each other, as my husband and I have different opinions on how to address the situation.

I worry that by continuing to support them financially, we’re reinforcing this cycle of dependency and preventing them from learning important life skills and financial responsibility. Yet the idea of withdrawing support makes me feel guilty, as if we’re abandoning them during a time when it’s hard to find stable employment. How do we approach this situation in a way that encourages them to become self-reliant while still showing them love and support? -- Dependent Adults

DEAR DEPENDENT ADULTS: You already know that you have done your sons a disservice by always paying their living expenses. It’s never too late to make a change. You can show them your love in another way by telling them the cold, hard truth: You will not live forever, and you cannot take care of them forever. They need to become independent men who are capable of caring for themselves and building their own lives. Don’t cut them off immediately, but give them a timeline to secure employment and find a place of their own to live. They need to be pushed. They will not like this and may become bitter at first, but they need to assume responsibility for themselves.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend, "Dencio," and I became lovers at an early age. At first, Dencio's mom was strongly against our relationship, believing we were too young and still had school to finish. Despite her disapproval, we continued seeing each other, thinking our love would be enough.

Recently, I found out that I am pregnant. We were shocked by the news, and Dencio’s mom was furious when she learned the truth. Now we don’t know what to do next. We’re unsure whether we can stay at Dencio’s mom’s house, and we wonder if we should separate. Should we try to make things work under difficult circumstances, or is it time for us to live independently and figure things out on our own? -- Young and Pregnant

DEAR YOUNG AND PREGNANT: Now is the time for you to stay together and figure out what you are going to do. Will you keep the baby or put it up for adoption? These are tough questions that you should make together -- probably with your parents’ input, since they will ultimately have to help if you keep the baby. Now is the time to grow up and behave like adults.

(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.)