I’m hosting Christmas for the first time this year. Two
elderly and lonely members of my extended family have
less-than-welcoming small pet dogs. One dog is not housebroken and the
other is unfriendly. To complicate things, my grandmother always brings
her small dog, although thankfully, it is well-trained. My family
rightly assumes my home is pet-friendly because I have a large dog, but
my backyard is not fenced. Plus, all three of the family members must
have their pets with them at all times. Each would spend the holiday
with their dog instead of family if they felt their pet wasn’t
welcome. How can I tactfully request that the two troublesome pooches
stay home without also banning my grandmother’s dog? Or should I
suck it up and just plan on pee cleanup and minor injuries as part of
the holiday party hosting? Should I ask Grandma to leave her dog home
this year, too?

Grandma’s pooch is well-behaved and an agreeable companion for
your dog, so extend an invitation to both, if you wish. But stop there.
Christmas is already on the list of the top life stressors. So while
the holiday season is certainly a time to tolerate a belligerent uncle
or to welcome a stranger to our table, a dog who urinates or poops in
the house is another matter.

The likelihood of drama is high given the characters you describe.
If one dog bites another or the other dog is, well, a party pooper, the
ensuing flurry of annoyance is what most will recall from the day. So
consider creating an outdoor area where all of the dogs can frolic
unattended. Or erect a canopy outside over their crates so there is no
chance of bites or fights, but weather protection is guaranteed.
Another option is to celebrate the holidays with your elderly relatives
in one of their homes on the day before your gathering. You can bring a
meal and then be assured that he or she has plenty of delicious
leftovers for the next day. Remember, the reason for the season is
love. Don’t lose it by becoming fearful of what others will think
if you state your preferences while still trying to accommodate their
desires.

My teenage son is crushed because the girl he has been dating
dumped him. Young people have such fragile feelings. How can I help him
get through this?

By acknowledging his very real loss. Don’t try to rush him out
of his uncomfortable feelings. This is an opportunity for him to learn
that people come and go in our lives, and it’s natural to mourn
our losses. Let him be hurt, teary, angry and confused. Realize that he
will likely dissolve into “end of the world thinking,” as
in “I’ll never meet another girl like her.” You also
can tell your son an appropriate story from your own life, but
honestly, from his perspective, you’re old. So enlist an
emotionally stable college-age family member or neighbor to share their
breakup experience. Teens need a network of supportive adults in their
life. It’s also vital to encourage your son not to call, text,
e-mail or tweet his ex-girlfriend. Insist that he not share his
feelings on social networking sites, either. Explain that he will
likely regret such actions later. When he feels the urge to contact his
ex, suggest that he call his attention back to his own life and
redirect that energy into a friendship or hobby. Don’t try to
distract him by taking him shopping, or you may set a pattern of
overconsumption as medicine for heartbreak. Most of all, be patient.
All wounds heal in time. But if he talks of suicide, get him to a
therapist immediately.