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In 1799, George Washington died at his home in Virginia.

Elizabeth Ko, M.D.

Dear Doctors: I just turned 36, and I’m feeling the effects of drinking more than I used to. My boyfriend and I both have big families, so during this time of year, we have wall-to-wall holiday parties. Last year we did dry January, but this year we want to try a dry-ish December. How do you do that but still have some fun?

Woman’s behavior negatively influences

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been fighting with my sister about her behavior around me and my family for years, and it’s reached a breaking point. I have two daughters, ages 7 and 9, and every time their aunt comes to visit, I’m left feeling frustrated and upset. My sister has a habit of using crude language, making inappropriate jokes and displaying poor manners, even when I’ve asked her repeatedly to tone it down around the kids. What makes this even more difficult is that my girls adore their aunt. They look up to her, and her behavior is starting to rub off on them. I’ve noticed my daughters repeating some of the language she uses or mimicking her attitude, and it’s creating issues at home and school. I’ve tried explaining this to my sister, but she brushes me off, saying I’m being uptight or overreacting.

Parent concerned by daughter’s obsession

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter has become consumed by social media and seems to measure her worth by the number of likes and comments she receives on her posts. Initially, she just wanted to learn how to use social media to promote and sell her collections, such as bags and shoes, but it’s now affecting her self-esteem. My family and I have noticed that she’s becoming increasingly anxious and withdrawn whenever her posts don’t perform as she expects. While I understand my daughter’s desire to succeed online, I want to help her develop a healthier relationship with social media and encourage her to focus more on real-world connections and accomplishments. I want to offer guidance, but I don’t want to seem dismissive of her goals. How can I help her manage her social media use while fostering a more positive outlook on herself and her work? – Social Media Pressure DEAR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE: I believe that the biggest challenge to positive self-esteem today is social media. People of all ages who engage in an online presence seriously grapple with the amount of attention they receive and what it means to their business, their psyche and their lives. You mentioned that your daughter uses it for her business. Encourage her to share with friends, colleagues and others she meets in person that she has an online store. Balancing the personal with online can help her to connect to actual people.

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