Mom’s parenting confession hurts reader

DEAR HARRIETTE: Out of nowhere, my mom confided in me that she never really enjoyed being a mother. She said that since I am 45 years old, she feels like she can finally be honest about it.

Daughter struggles to afford dream school

DEAR HARRIETTE: My oldest daughter is preparing to head to college in the fall. She has worked so hard over the years – as a student and as a sister. Her father and I spent a lot of our time working, and she picked up the slack with her two younger siblings.

Heat stroke requires medical intervention

Dear Doctors: I am 72 years old and in good health. Last fall, I got weak and shaky while working in my yard. It was a hot day, so my son insisted on calling 911. They said it was heat exhaustion, and I got treated on the spot. How is heat exhaustion different from heat stroke?

Employee hesitant to have friend as boss

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have the opportunity to take a job where my friend will be my boss. I’ve never worked in an environment with someone I was friends with prior to working with them, and I don’t often make a habit of becoming close friends with co-workers. I’m a bit wary.

DO JUST ONE THING

• Have you ever thought about how unclean the inside of your car really is? Many of us rarely clean the interior thoroughly, even though our car is a second home.

Reader struggles to make friends in new city

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been looking for a fresh start for a few years.I didn’t know exactly what I needed to change, but I felt disappointment when I’d reflect on my life. One day, I decided to change my location on LinkedIn and began getting some great job offers.

Friend asks for job recommendation

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in a supporting role in the entertainment industry. With the work I do and the reputation my company has in this industry, I have met a lot of celebrities and high-profile individuals.

DO JUST ONE THING

• When storing leftovers in the refrigerator, it’s imperative to cover the food to keep it fresh. But did you know covering your food also helps save energy? The compressor inside your refrigerator is what keeps the air inside cool.

Sprained ankles need more time to heal

Dear Doctors: I twisted my ankle playing soccer, and the coach said it’s sprained. I got it taped and sat out for a few days. It felt better, so I asked to play, but he said no, it still needed time to heal. What happens if I go back too soon?

Sibling wants to stay out of brother’s woes

DEAR HARRIETTE: My brother and his wife are separated, and things have gotten messy. Because it seems that they have come to a standstill, now his wife’s family has started reaching out to extended family members – including me – to encourage us to try to get them back together.