Kate & Emily

This came to us via email and the Mum agreed we could post it on the forum as she'd like to hear your advice too:

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help/advise me. My ex husband left me and our two children 4 years ago as he was having an affair. Ever since he introduced the children to his new girlfriend (which he didn't even discuss with me first) the youngest who is now 5 seems to be calling her "mummy" (and her name). I've tried on numerous occasions to talk with the father about stopping it and he just says that he'll try but nothing seems to be chaging.

I have been seeing my boyfriend for one year – we met on a dating site! We have a lot in common, enjoy each others company and I've never felt so pampered and cared about before – even in my marriage! We're both divorced parents with two children each. He has boys 7 & 9 years and my girls are 11 & 15 years old. We generally see each other on our weekends off from the kids and maybe once in the week. My youngest daughter seems to get on well with him, but my eldest daughter has been off and on as far as liking him. I have asked her why and she says 'he smells' and 'hates him staying over'.

I have been in a relationship with a woman for two years now and for the past six months we have been living together. She has two children aged nine and eleven. The father is still seeking a reconcilliation, they seperated five years ago (by her reckoning) and fifteen months ago by his (the time she told him off our relationship).

Their relationship was in London which she left and moved three hundred miles south to Jersey and met me.

I am at my wit's end knowing what to do to improve the relationship between my boyfriend and my 11 year old daughter.