Who is Suzie?
I’m a Relate-trained counsellor, an accredited parenting educator, an agony aunt with over 15 years experience of working on UK national magazines (including eight years as agony aunt of Women’s Own), newspapers, television, radio and online and the author of 26 books – the two most recent being Teach Yourself Step-parenting and Teach Yourself Single Parenting. I was the counsellor in ‘Stepfamilies’, a major BBC1 series, helping people sort their way through the difficulties of bringing new families together.
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Category Archives: Children
My son’s on report for fighting
His father has cancelled the last three visits at the last moment and I’m sure it has everything to do with that. I think the school need to know what is happening in his life and how much it hurts and makes him angry but he totally refuses to let me go and speak with his teacher. Continue reading
Posted in All Advice, Children, Relationships, Self-Esteem
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They smoke and smack
I want our child to go on seeing his father and grandparents but I’ve had arguments in the past with them because they all smoke like chimneys and smack him. Continue reading
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The other mums are so unfriendly
There are some other mums at the café I go to but they’re not very friendly. They smile and say hello but they never ask me to join them. How can I make friends? Continue reading
Posted in Children, Family, Relationships, Self-Esteem
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My ex is so selfish
My es late on visits, often cancels or changes the arrangements. My new husband is a total contrast – loving, caring, totally reliable. So why on earth does my son refuse to accept him? Continue reading
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They won’t do chores!
This may be trivial but it’s causing so much unhappiness in my house. My children take me for granted but i don’t know what to do about it. I can’t get them to do chores. Continue reading
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They’re so messy!
When my stepchildren come to stay they way they leave stuff all over the house infuriates me. Continue reading
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We’re fighting a losing battle!
Dealing with my teenagers is like trying to herd cats. If one gets what they want, the others complain. Continue reading
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Why do they fight?
My eldest son really doesn’t get on with my new partner. They fight over everything – who feeds the dog, where each of them will sit on the sofa, even what cereal to have in the morning. Continue reading
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He says he’ll take our child!
My ex is going around saying he’s going to get my daughter, who is now 5, and bring her up as his own and that he can do this because he’s now a married man with a family while I’m single. Can he? Continue reading
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Should we tell the kids?
We met 6 months ago and we really do think this is it. But he gnats to tell my kids – should we? Continue reading
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