COLUMNIST and trained counsellor Fiona Caine offers guidance to a woman finding it tough living with her mum, and another worried she’s pregnant.

MUM MOVED IN WITH US AFTER DAD DIED - BUT CAN WE ASK HER TO LEAVE?

My father died early last year, leaving my mother to live on her own during the pandemic. She was clearly struggling and my husband suggested she could move in with us. It meant our two sons had to go back to sharing a room and none of us thought the situation would last so long!

I love my mother, but this was never intended to be anything but a short-term arrangement.

I wouldn’t mind if she did things, but all she wants to do is sit around the house and talk. My husband and I are both trying to hold down our jobs and home-school the boys.

The whole family is beginning to resent it, especially my sons. My husband thinks I should just ask her to leave, but I don’t feel I can do that. I have no idea how to suggest it without hurting her feelings.

FIONA SAYS: TRY TO HAVE SOME POSITIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE

It can take years to come to terms with the death of a loved one, so your mother is probably still grieving. The fact you feel she has become overly dependent on you for support isn’t surprising.

You will need to be careful and tactful. Talk to her, in a positive way, about things she’s going to do when restrictions are eased a little further down the line.

SCARED I MIGHT BE PREGNANT AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY FLING

I suppose you’ll think this serves me right but just before Christmas, I went to a party and got a bit drunk. I suppose it was the novelty of being with people again that I ended up in bed with a guy I hardly know (and yes, I know - we weren’t supposed to be having parties, but we did).

I didn’t intend things to go as far as they did, and he didn’t use a condom. He did use the withdrawal method though, so I thought I’d be OK, but I’m now a couple of weeks late. I’m frightened I might be pregnant and I’m in a complete state about it. I realise I’ve been an idiot and wish it would just go away.

FIONA SAYS: TAKE SOME STEPS NOW

There is no point in dwelling on how this happened, but you do need to find out whether you are actually pregnant.

If you’re not, then there won’t be anything further to worry about - although you did still have unprotected sex.

If you are pregnant, get appropriate advice and support - the sooner the better.