DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a grandfather to two lovely children. My grandson is 14 years old now. As recently as two years ago, we would go to the zoo or the carnival together. Now, it seems as though my grandson is too “cool” for me. I keep attempting to reach out to him, but now I just hear crickets. I don’t want to stop his youthful fun. I just want to be involved in his life.

My granddaughter still spends time with me, so I am grateful, but I just miss my grandson. I have been thinking about how to relate to him or make the things we used to do appealing to him. He just doesn’t seem to want to spend time with me anymore. How can I convince him that spending time with his grandfather will be fun? I haven’t seen him in months now. – Grandpa in the Dust, Shreveport, Louisiana

DEAR GRANDPA IN THE DUST: What a difference a day can make, let alone a couple of years! Your grandson is trying to find his way as an adolescent, and he seems to be fully absorbed in his teenage life right now. I can imagine how disconnected that feels for you.

One thing you may consider is, if you both have smartphones or other electronic devices, communicate using those tools. Send texts and photos to your grandson of curious or fun moments. Do not try to guilt him into seeing you. Instead, show him what you are doing. Even if it seems boring, you can try to make it fun. Like taking a picture of something interesting you discovered on your morning walk or a selfie of you with your favorite tree in the background or in a kookier setting, basically something to remind him of you. In turn, he may do the same.

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DEAR HARRIETTE: I am unemployed. I continued school for a few extra years and now find myself with what I’ve dubbed a useless degree. As I speak to my family and friends about jobs I am interviewing for, they typically say something along the lines of: “You’re too good for that job. ”

Whether or not I am overqualified for a bartending or waitressing job does not matter to me any longer. I may have more education than I need, but I need a job, and no one seems to be offering. I am ready to make money, and I don’t need to be judged for whatever line of work I can get into. My family seems to be so overbearing about me getting a job in my field – to the point where I just don’t want to speak to them about my job hunt. I just need money! Is it that important to get a job in the field I studied? – Need Cash, Baltimore

DEAR NEED CASH: Stop complaining to your family and go to recruiters, or scour the want ads to look for options. When you go for interviews, be upbeat. When asked why you are trying out for a job that doesn’t seem like a great match, be honest. You want to work. You are a hard worker, and you will make them proud.

Explain what qualities you bring to that company, no matter who it is, so that you seem appealing for that job specifically. If asked why you aren’t pursuing your field of interest, explain that you will again, but right now you want to get to work, and you are ready to give this company your all.

— 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.