DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m dealing with a health issue that requires significant dietary changes, and I’m struggling to make it work with my family’s eating habits. I’ve had to cut out gluten and dairy, but my family continues to enjoy dishes that include these ingredients. They often have pasta night with creamy sauces, which has been really tough for me, both physically and emotionally. I have felt left out as I sit there with my separate meal, and it seems like the divide between what I need to eat and what everyone else enjoys is growing wider.

MONTREAL – It doesn’t look like a crucible of power. It occupies a full block on Sainte-Catherine Street, not far from my barbershop, a sushi restaurant, a bagel store and two dry cleaners. Its entry looks grand – three sets of oak double doors – but otherwise, there’s nothing remarkable about the pale brick structure. It’s a high school like so many others, except for the fact that my mother was a graduate. So was the poet and balladeer Leonard Cohen. Also, hockey standout Art Ross, the first coach of the Boston Bruins and the eponym of the Art Ross Trophy, given each year to the NHL scoring champion.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been feeling concerned about my teenage daughter lately. She’s started spending time with a new group of friends who are really into extreme sports like skateboarding and parkour. This is a big shift from the activities we’ve always encouraged, such as volunteering and participating in community events. Last night she mentioned planning a parkour session at an old factory, and it made me uneasy. I’m worried about the risks involved and how this new interest might pull her away from the values we’ve worked hard to instill. I know that today’s generation seems to have different sensitivities compared to ours, and I’m reluctant to simply forbid her from pursuing her interests. I want to discuss my concerns with her, but I’m not sure how to approach the conversation without pushing her away. How can I express my worries while remaining supportive and keeping our lines of communication open? – Concerned Parent DEAR CONCERNED PARENT: Rather than forbidding her from these activities, learn about them alongside her. Encourage your daughter to use the proper safety gear and to be careful. Telling her she can’t do something would likely lead to her doing it without informing you. I recommend supporting her exploration of these sports with caution while also remembering community service. Participate in volunteer opportunities as a family while encouraging her to tell you about her extreme sports activities.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m a 28-year-old woman, and up until this year, I’ve never had any serious issues with my skin. However, seemingly out of nowhere, I developed cystic acne this year. I’ve become self-conscious, to the point where I sometimes dread going out in public or even seeing friends and family. What’s made this even harder to cope with is the way my mother-in-law has been treating me. She’s always been somewhat critical, but ever since my skin started breaking out, she’s been downright rude. She constantly makes snide remarks and unwelcome comments about how bad my skin looks now.