DEAR ABBY: At 24, I am fortunate to have loving, functional relationships with my mother, father, stepmother (of 15 years) and stepsister. I attribute my healthy childhood to the fact that my mom and dad have always acted as best friends when we’re together, despite having been separated almost my entire life.

However, lately I have been finding my parents’ relationship very inappropriate. They have been hanging out together often without me, and almost certainly without my stepmother’s knowledge. I have stumbled upon suggestive texts that imply a flirty relationship, and probably more. I don’t know whether these are recent developments or if I have just stopped being naive.

I would never want my stepsister to discover anything about my mom and dad the hard way. I especially don’t want to see her hurt by becoming a child of divorce. Would I be overstepping my boundaries if I asked my mom and dad to spend less time together and restrict their relationship to being parents to me and that’s all?

— HURT CHILDWOMAN

DEAR HURT CHILDWOMAN: If you approach it the way you have written it to me, yes, I think you would offend both of your parents. If you are afraid your stepsister may be hurt if her parents separate, be there to comfort and support her, but do not insert yourself into what may or may not be an explosive minefield. This may be the way your mom and dad have always related to each other, your stepmother may be aware of it, and you could come across as extremely presumptuous. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com