The two sixth grade boys are nice to the younger kid, but they're at different stages and want their own time to hang out without a 5-year-old in tow.

My family lives in a close-knit neighborhood. I’m good friends with two women in particular, “Leslie” and “Tara.” Leslie’s daughter “Ashley” and my son “Ben,” both in sixth grade, have been best friends since first grade.

The issue is, Ashley and Ben are much older and are afforded a lot more freedom to roam around the neighborhood than Lyle is. Leslie and I trust that they know their boundaries and our expectations of them.

In today's Dear Annie column, Annie Lane hears from a woman whose husband constantly checks on where she is, even if she's asleep.

"Recently, he has become increasingly controlling, checking all my movements and whereabouts, even while we are both at home."

Your husband’s behavior is intrusive, possessive and controlling, like you said. It’s also odd that he’s started doing this out of the blue with seemingly no change in your marriage to warrant it. The next time you catch him checking up on you,