Dear Queenie,

When my son’s best friend is at our house for a meal he very often refuses to eat what we are serving. Our children know they are expected to eat whatever they are served, or at least some of it, and they don’t make a fuss about it, but this friend is something else.

Queenie, what is the best way to deal with this picky eater?—Not a caterer

Dear Not,

It depends. If the child has food allergies, you want to be careful what you serve him, so check with his parents to find out whether there are foods he cannot eat and try to accommodate his needs.

But if the child is merely a picky eater, as you say, tell him – pleasantly! – that in your house everyone is expected to take at least a taste of whatever they are served and if they do not like it they do not have to eat all of it. Then serve him whatever everyone else is having, and if he does not eat it, so be it.

I am reasonably certain he will eat if he is hungry, once he understands your house rules. Or he will stop taking meals at your house – your problem solved, if not his.

Dear Queenie,

My colleague is getting married. Her husband-to-be is unemployed and has been that way throughout their entire relationship. She complains that all he does is watch TV and she pays all their bills so she never has enough left over for recreation. Then she gets jealous when the girls in the office discuss what we did over the weekend. She is always stressed out, living pay-check to pay-check.

Queenie, what advice do you have for her?—Concerned co-worker

Dear Co-worker,

My advice to your colleague is: Dump that free-loading bum!

It may not be easy for you, but it is possible that doing so will motivate him to shape up, get a job and start carrying his own weight.

However, as long as you are willing to support him, what incentive does he have to even try to find work or pay his own way, let alone support you? What will you do if he gets you pregnant? How will you manage to work through your pregnancy and support yourself and your child once it is born?

I say it again: Dump that free-loading bum!

Dear Queenie,

There’s this guy I dated a few times and then moved on to someone else. Now my best friend is dating him and for some reason it bothers me. I told her how I feel but she’s still dating him.

Queenie, if she is really my friend wouldn’t she stop dating him, knowing how I feel about it?—Annoyed

Dear Annoyed,

Why does this bother you so much? Did this guy do something unforgiveable that made you dump him? If that is the case, you should tell your friend so she knows what kind of guy he really is.

But if you broke it off with him just because the two of you were not well suited to each other, why do you begrudge your friend her relationship with him? If you are really her friend, why are you not glad she has found

Dear Queenie,

My mother-in-law has a key to our house in case of emergencies. I suspect she uses it when we are not at home, because little things go missing, like food and cleaning supplies and sometimes even tools, dishes and cooking utensils

I don’t want to cause a family fight, but this has to stop!

Queenie, what do you suggest?—Invaded

Dear Invaded,

Change your locks! Do it at once and without telling your mother-in-law.

If she asks you why you have done so, ask her how she knows. Then, without accusing her of being the culprit, tell her what you have told me about things going missing. You will know from her reaction whether she indeed is the guilty party and whether you can trust her with a new key.