Our only child, a son, died more than five years ago, and we brought a wrongful death lawsuit to support his daughter—our only grandchild—and to hold those responsible accountable. The court awarded over $1 million to our eight-year-old granddaughter and appointed my husband the executor over the trust. Since then, our granddaughter’s mother has accused us of taking money from her child, threatened legal action, and implied we could lose our relationship with our granddaughter. We never pursued this for personal gain and are devastated by the possibility of being cut off from her. We would appreciate advice on how to handle this situation.

I work with someone who seems to rely on AI for almost everything. Emails, assignments, and even simple brainstorming sessions feel like they’re coming from a chatbot rather than from them.

At first, I thought they were just trying to be efficient, but now I’m starting to question their competence. I’m not sure how much of their work they actually understand or what they actually think. It’s also becoming harder to trust their judgment. And it’s affecting our relationship because interactions don’t feel authentic anymore.

We’re encouraged to use AI here at work, so how do I talk to a colleague about their dependence on it without sounding judgmental or accusing them of being incapable?

Dear Crucial Skills, How can I address a situation where I’m taking on extra responsibilities without recognition or fair pay, and my supervisor dismisses my concerns? Signed,At a Loss Dear At a Loss, I’ve lived in Utah most of my life and so have always had a love for mountains. I would walk out the …

What are some ways I can train myself to be a better listener and create a safe space for those around me?

Dear Crucial Skills, I’m a structural engineer with six years of experience, and I recently joined a smaller firm where I’m one of only two engineers. At my previous firms, I was encouraged to contribute to improving well-established systems and processes. At this new firm, many practices feel outdated, but I’m unsure how to share …

How do I deal with a teenager who went on a date without my consent and didn’t come home until the next day? Attempts to talk with her haven’t worked, and I’ve also learned that she smokes. I want her to make better choices and know I’m a safe person to talk to, but I’m struggling to have a productive conversation or influence her behavior. What’s the best way to approach this?

My introverted daughter tends to avoid social interactions by giving people the silent treatment. Recently she’s been doing this with our housemate. How can I help her develop healthier ways of managing social relations?