By Carolyn Hax: Dwell on what's in his heart, not tattooed on skin

Q. I have a 21-year-old son, impulsive by nature, who unexpectedly joined the military and is serving in Afghanistan. He has placed many tattoos on his body, which I find so unattractive. He knows how I feel, but states it is his body.

Recently, I went to his Facebook page to correspond with him, and noticed he got another large tattoo. I am devastated, and feel he is turning into a cartoon. My soul is torn apart.

I am having a hard time writing to him now and sending care packages. I feel as if he has never honored or cared for my feelings, and am searching for some insight to get beyond this. How do I accept that my son has become everything I do not respect?

A. How did we get from tattoos to “everything I do not respect”? To “never honored or cared for my feelings”?

The importance (to you) of keeping ink out of his skin can't be the only value you tried to instill in him. Presumably you also stressed the importance of service, of pulling his weight, of being his own man, of staying close to the people he loves? Of not judging books by covers?

He's serving his country, supporting himself, owning his choices big and small, and staying in touch with Mommy from a war zone.

And you're distancing yourself because of what's on his skin.

Perhaps his impulsive streak is rebellion against your rigid beliefs. I hope for both of your sakes — but mostly for yours — that you stop dwelling on what his appearance says about you, and start thinking about what his heart says about him.

Q. I'm gay. Congratulations, you're the first person I've told. I've had a number of miserable hetero relationships that obviously couldn't go anywhere, but I'm starting to go crazy. I live in a part of the country where there is no real “gay community,” and my family isn't exactly gay-friendly. If I were to start over someplace else, I'd be doing it completely alone. Not to mention that I am in a doomed relationship with someone whose heart I don't want to break. I have no idea where to turn.

A. This isn't about being closeted in Huntsville. Anytime you feel stuck, sort the reasons into two piles: constants, and choices. Then remind yourself as often as necessary that every choice can be changed.

I can argue that you're “completely alone” right where you are. And, as long as you're choosing not to live openly where you are, and not to move away, then you'll never foreseeably be anything but alone. Nor will your partner in relationship doom; that breakup needs to come now.

Maybe it feels unsafe to come out; that's something only you can assess.

And maybe you feel too insecure/unstable to start over alone — or you just take comfort in family, despite your secret. Fair enough. But: “completely alone” is the way countless people arrive in new locations to launch new lives, especially when the old lives aren't working. Starting from scratch is both a byproduct of our mobile society, and a catalyst for it; Americans treat a fresh start as their birthright.

Certainly some moves that are conceived as fresh starts can spiral into alienation and financial distress. The more vulnerable you are emotionally, physically, socially, financially and professionally, the more safeguards you need to build into your relocation.

For you, that might just mean you shop for your new community carefully, holding out for both professional opportunity and societal open-mindedness — and also scout ahead for gay-friendly volunteer or community groups, so you can establish quick proximity to potential friends when you get there. Also, avoid strict leases and keep escape funds in savings. Your needs may be emotional, but be relentlessly practical in your plans.

Q. This has bothered me since Christmas! In my boyfriend's family, they draw names so that everyone gives a gift to one person. Their agreed-on price is twice as expensive as in my family (we also have a lottery system). So I spent twice as much on someone in my boyfriend's family as on my own sister, who is very dear to me. I feel that I was unjust.

Should I have given her a more expensive gift? My family could not have afforded more, although I personally could have.

A. Spending over limits often annoys people who observe them — and can be a slap in the face to those who couldn't afford to spend more.

Heed the limit on your one gift, then satisfy your sense of justice by giving your whole family an extra something they all can enjoy. Good food or wine would do it.

• E-mail Carolyn at tellme@washpost.com, follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carolyn.hax or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at washingtonpost.com.

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