Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

My son is 17 and we live in an apartment complex. For the past five years, we’ve had the same next-door neighbor, a divorced woman who is a few years older than my husband and I, and we are all quite friendly. The thing is that sometimes our neighbor visits the house and my son will often come waltzing out of his room in his briefs. I have told him that this is inappropriate, but he refuses to agree. He says that he’s exposing just as much of himself as people do when they go to the beach. I’m not buying his argument.

— Upset Mom

Dear Upset Mom,

You are correct. Your son’s argument is based on the concept that there’s no such thing as appropriate dress. If we were to agree, then it would be perfectly acceptable for your husband or you to appear at your jobs while wearing pajamas or nightgowns, because, in most cases, they cover as much as a standard work attire. The beach is the beach and your home is your home. When people visit, it is a mark of disrespect and slovenliness to be hanging out in your underwear. You could always shock him into recognizing this by showing up in a jockstrap, bra, and turban when one of his friends visits, but hopefully you won’t not have to go to such an extreme. If you do, please send Dr. Lovemonkey the photos.

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

My husband’s aunt is very ill and it appears that she will probably die fairly soon. My question is this: We have a four-year-old son and I wonder if it’s a good idea for him to come to the funeral and/or calling hours when she passes away. We are somewhat torn about this and concerned that it will scare him. Do you have any thoughts on this?

— In a Quandary

Dear In a Quandary,

This, I believe, is something that you and your husband will have to decide. At four, your son is probably too young to grasp the significance of it all. We attend funerals to honor the person that has passed, to grieve, and to comfort each other. It’s reasonable to assume that the ensuing ceremonies and rituals could be scary for him and it is perfectly appropriate that he not attend. You should gauge how you feel your son will react. I suspect that he is too young, but it’s something that you and your husband, and perhaps other adult relatives, should discuss.

Dear Dr. Lovemonkey,

My teenaged daughter has just started dating and she has been going out with a guy who, while he seems to be very nice, has the very annoying habit of remaining in the car and honking the horn when he arrives to pick her up. We believe he should come to the door and ring the bell when he arrives. Our daughter has only been out with him twice, but this has happened each time. She seems unconcerned and I’m not certain if she has passed this bit of wisdom on to him. Is there anything that we should do about this?

— Irritated Parent

Dear Irritated Parent,

Gee, Dr. Lovemonkey seems to be hearing from a lot of parents this week. Could this be further evidence of an aging population? Anyway, I’d insist that your daughter pass on the information to the young man in question, and, if the opportunity arises, mention it to him yourself in a non-threatening and cordial way when next you see him. The official Dr. Lovemonkey way of battling this particular lapse in civility is by purchasing one of those horns, the kind that Harpo Marx liked to wield in the movies. When the young man arrives and blasts his horn, go outside — using the door most clearly visible to him — and blast your own horn at him. I suspect he’ll get the message.

Send questions and romantic quandaries to RUDYCHEEKS@prodigy.com.