Dear Family Coach: My son has a new best friend. I recently learned that his friend's family keeps guns in their home. I'd like to discuss the issue, but I'm worried I'll freak out because I am not a fan of guns. How can I ensure my son's safety so he can still visit their home without it becoming awkward? — Afraid of Guns

Dear Afraid: Asking about guns shouldn't be awkward. If the parents are responsible gun owners, they will have a clear safety plan in place and won't mind sharing it with you. Start by addressing your concerns without beating around the bush. Flat-out ask whether there are any guns in the house. Find out what the family does to guarantee that the kids do not have access to them. Ask who has access. Ask whether the guns and ammunition are stored separately, and whether the guns are locked up unloaded. The parents should have equal concern for the safety of their children. If they don't, plan a play date at your home instead.

In addition, don't forget to talk to your son about gun safety. It is too late to discuss safety after an accident happens. Teach him how to handle the situation if he were to ever see a real gun, or even a toy gun that looks real. Tell him never to touch a gun and to run and tell an adult if he sees one. You may want to have this conversation every so often as a reminder.

Dear Family Coach: A year ago, I begrudgingly agreed to get a dog for the kids for Christmas. The strict condition was they would take care of the dog. A year has passed, and I am 90 percent responsible for the dog. I hate this dog. Can I get rid of him, or will it scar the kids? — Dog-Hating Dad

Dear Dad: Oh, no, you fell for a classic parenting blunder. It's when parents get a pet that requires a substantial amount of care and they think the kids will live up to all of their promises. I'm sure your kids said they would take extra-special care of the dog. They would walk him and feed him and love him. You wouldn't have to do anything, right? I'm sure they were very convincing. The problem is that unfortunately, kids don't even know what they are promising. They can't do the night walk before bed because they are already sleeping. They might struggle to talk to the dog in the rush of the morning before school. With after-school activities and play dates, they just aren't around enough to be solely responsible for the dog.

If the kids love the dog, then it's time for a family meeting. It's probably unreasonable to think they will suddenly take over all dog-related tasks. However, let them know that you are not enjoying the level of responsibility you have had to take on. Remind them of their promise. Ask them to come up concrete tasks they will do from now on. Be realistic. Discuss the consequences they will receive if they do not live up to their end of the bargain. Giving the dog away might be too harsh. But taking away their allowance or other privileges might be in order. If, for some crazy reason, no one enjoys the dog, then try to find another home for him. The dog deserves to be taken care of by people who love and appreciate him.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at questions@thefamilycoach.com. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.