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. I don’t want to get involved.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband wants to have a baby; I do not. Now, you’re probably thinking that we should’ve discussed this before we got married, but I don’t think either of us had a hard stance on the subject back then. My husband has two beautiful stepdaughters from a previous relationship, and when he and I were dating, I spent a lot of time getting to know them.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister “Ruth” and I were both supposed to help a friend settle into her new home, but Ruth backed out after getting a lastminute invite to brunch. Our plans to help our friend had been scheduled long in advance. Ruth’s SUV was packed with furniture and other items that we were expected to bring over, so she asked if she could borrow my car and meet me at our friend’s place later. I agreed reluctantly and drove Ruth’s car over with all of our friend’s belongings.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m a woman in my early 20s, just starting out in my career and trying to get my footing financially. My older sister, who’s in her late 20s, recently accepted a new job in Missouri and is planning to move soon, but she doesn’t have the money to make it happen. Now my parents and sister are pressuring me to cover her moving costs, even though I live in Los Angeles (where everything is expensive) and don’t have a huge income myself. They’re framing it like I should help because I’m “good with money” and live more independently than my sister, but it feels unfair to be treated like the family bank just because I’m responsible. I love my sister and want her to succeed, but I also feel resentful that I’m being put in this position, especially since she’s older than me and has had more time to get on her feet. How do I deal with this without damaging my relationship with my family or abandoning my own financial boundaries? – Family Bank DEAR FAMILY BANK: Suggest to your sister that she ask her new employer to cover her expenses – or at least some portion of them. She can tell them that she really wants to work for them but cannot afford the move without some financial help to get there. Next, either tell her you cannot pay her expenses or agree to pay a portion that you can afford. Don’t feel forced to pay for her move. If your parents feel so strongly about helping your sister, they should chip in.