DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and am a college student at a local university. Because I'm single and work part time as a waitress, it makes more sense for me to live at home with my parents than on my own. My parents are nice and easy to live, with so it's comfortable there.

This is all well and good, but recently my mother, who always shows interest in my college work, dropped a bombshell on me! She told me last week that she wants to know if she can enroll in the same classes I'll be taking next semester! She has decided she wants to return to college now, since many decades ago she stopped attending college to start a family.

My mom has worked for years as a part-time office assistant, but now she's telling me she wants to achieve a four-year degree and perhaps enter the business world at a new level.

I understand she has every right to enroll in any college she wants, including the one I attend, but having her in each and every one of my classes seems a bit much. It would definitely cramp on my social life. I'm a girl who has a lot of friends, and it's fun for me to have different friends in different classes who I catch up with before and after class. But my mom thinks this is be a great idea since we can attend classes together, compare notes and study together. I'm quite apprehensive about having my 45-year-old mother sitting next to me in class next January. What do you think about this? Is there anything I can do about it? — Mom's Making Me Uncomfortable, via email

MOM'S MAKING ME UNCOMFORTABLE: Your situation is an interesting one, though it's not the first time I've heard of something like this.

First of all, you live at home, and I trust you have a good relationship with your mother overall, so you don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. Second, she has every right to attend any university she can qualify to attend, and accordingly she can enroll in any classes she wishes.

Having said that, perhaps you could sit down with her and explain things from your perspective. Be tactful and diplomatic. You could ask her to take perhaps half of her classes with you and the other half on her own so that she gets a full experience of both classroom situations. Explain also that you'd be happy to study with her occasionally, but that at times you'll be studying with your friends. Mention that you'll always be available when you have free time at home to go over a few things with her if she needs it — and be sure to ask her if she'll help you, too.

If your mother does follow through in January, you will be in a delicate situation, but trust me: It's manageable. Suggest that you meet each other halfway: Do some things together, but create a little breathing room so that it's not overwhelming for either one of you.

SHE'S VERY SLOW TO GET THINGS DONE

DR. WALLACE: I'm a first-time stepmother, and I have quite a challenge on my hands regarding my new teenage daughter. She's 15, and I married her father about six months ago. My new husband's first wife passed away about four years ago.

The biggest challenge I've had is getting her to fulfill her obligations around the house and keep her room organized as per the rules we all agreed to. She seems to elevate procrastination and laziness to an art form!

Her father and I have been quite clear about her responsibilities and our expectations, but she often does not even start her tasks until late in the day and late in the week.

She's a good girl overall, but it's amazing how difficult she can make the day-to-day process be for herself and everyone around her. I'm at a loss as to what to try next. Any ideas? — I'm Struggling With This, via email

I'M STRUGGLING WITH THIS: You are indeed in a delicate situation, but there are steps you can take.

First and foremost is communication. Pperhaps a good way for you to get her to engage with her responsibilities is to step in and offer to help her. If the two of you can work together, you can speak with her and do a bit of initial bonding. However, remember to take it at a very slow pace. She's lost her mother and has been raised for years after that by a single father, so tread lightly.

Over the long run, keeping communication open builds trust. Also never forget that many teenagers around the world demonstrate the very same behaviors, and most of them have not lost a birth mother.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Priscilla Du Preez ???????? at Unsplash