DEAR HARRIETTE: My home has a mouse problem, so I set out glue traps to capture them. I heard that a mouse was trapped in the night, but forgot about it come morning. My preteen daughter, who has just taken a huge interest in animal rights, opened the drawer and saw the mouse. She was horrified and told me I was a monster for setting out the traps and waiting for the mice to starve to death. I feel bad, but I cannot have mice running rampant in the house. My daughter is upset with me, but I feel like there isn’t another alternative for these vermin. – Little Animal Advocate, Dallas

DEAR LITTLE ANIMAL ADVOCATE: This may be the perfect time for the two of you to do some research into animals. Of course, it makes sense that you should be kind to animals and respect them. At the same time, everyone – human and animal alike – must stake out his or her territory. In the natural cycle of life, animals mark their turf, and when others invade it or cross the line in one way or another, they have to pay. This sometimes can cost the creature’s life .

You have the right to keep your home free from vermin and therefore safe for humans to inhabit. You also have a choice in terms of the means of eliminating pests. Glue traps do lead to slow deaths. The more traditional snap traps immediately kill the animals and are also reusable. Your daughter may be more affected by seeing a mouse with a broken neck, though. Another option is to get a cat. Typically, homes with cats rarely have mice or rats because the cats kill the vermin. Once the feline smell is detected, vermin choose other locations to call home.

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DEAR HARRIETTE: While I was baby-sitting for a new family, the children told me that their mother doesn’t let them eat much and forces them to exercise. It is obvious that the children are overweight, but I am not sure if the mother is acting on professional medical advice or her own beliefs on how children should look. The children complain about hunger because they don’t want to eat “Mommy’s gross food.”

I have been on the fence about mentioning this information to the parents because they might feel I am overstepping my boundaries. I don’t think they neglect their children; I just know I was chubby as a child and grew out of it naturally. I don’t think it’s necessary to force children into diets. – Mom’s the Personal Trainer, Toledo, Ohio

DEAR MOM’S THE PERSONAL TRAINER: One way to address this with the mother is to ask for advice on how to support the children’s healthy living initiative that the mother has started. Inform her that the children have told you about the exercise routines and eating changes and admit that they are not enthusiastic about it. Ask if you can help to encourage them to adopt healthier habits.

Without advocating for a diet, you may be able to partner with the mother to encourage the children to move more and eat more healthfully. If they can see it as fun, they may begin to appreciate it.

— Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to [email protected] or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.