DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in a serious relationship with a man who, like myself, has two children from a previous relationship. His kids are about two years older than mine, but all of them are in elementary school. My boyfriend's kids are not very well-behaved. They lack manners and respect for elders, and they regularly use swear words. I'm worried they might be a bad influence on my kids. I don't like when my kids spend longer than a few hours with them because they usually misbehave afterward. What should I do? — Bad Influence DEAR BAD INFLUENCE: You and your guy need to have some serious conversations about the future and the blending of your families. You need to set ground rules for what is acceptable in your home and around your children. For example, you have rules about manners, language and interactions with elders.
