Dear Queenie,

My son’s girlfriend sent pictures of herself to my ex-wife’s husband, my son’s stepfather, and my son broke up with her because of it. Now my son doesn’t like being around his stepfather and it’s making things difficult between my son and his mother, who doesn’t think all this is very important.

Queenie, how can I make this situation better?—Worried father

Dear Father,

Does your son’s mother understand the reason her son broke up with his girlfriend? If not, someone should explain the situation to her and your son can arrange to see her alone, without her husband.

Dear Queenie,

One of my children has a lot of problems and my husband is away on his job a lot of the time so he cannot help me with her. I have asked him to try to be home more of the time, but his job won’t let it happen and he says he can’t find another job that would let him be more at home and still pay as well as this one.

We don’t have family here and we don’t have a lot of friends because of our child’s problems and I know we need my husband’s income, but we also need him here at home.

Queenie, what can I do?—Stressed-out wife

Dear Wife,

Is it possible for you to move closer to your family? If not, perhaps there is a support group in your community that could help. Your doctor and/or your daughter’s doctor probably could help you find the help you both need.

Dear Queenie,

My boyfriend and I live with his parents and I help with the housework, but they complain if I don’t do the dishes too.

My boyfriend used to help me out financially, but he doesn’t do that any more, and I have to have his permission if I want to go anywhere or even just talk to someone in my family or a friend.

Queenie, what can I do?—Confused girlfriend

Dear Girlfriend,

Your boyfriend has made you completely dependent on him. This is a form of abuse.

There must be organisations in your community that can help you get away from him. Contact them for help and get away from him as soon as you can.

Dear Queenie,

A couple of years ago my wife got converted and started going to church every Sunday and holiday. I am not an atheist, but I’m not a religious person and I don’t go to church, and my wife knew this since before we got married, but she wants me to go with her.

I did go a couple of times, but I didn’t agree with what was preached in the sermon so I didn’t go again, but my wife still wants me to go to church with her.

Queenie, what do you think I should do?—Not a Church-Goer

Dear Not a Church-Goer,

Tell your wife you do not agree with the sermons and feel uncomfortable in church. You could go with her on big holidays and try to ignore what you do not agree with, but most of the time she should let you have some alone-time on Sundays while she is in church.