The family has purchased a home for all of us – including our parents and five siblings. Two of the latter don’t live at home, one pays only $400.00 a month, the other never held a job, and even if he did, he pays nothing.

I got stuck paying it all: mortgage, taxes and home insurance, which is putting me under enormous stress.

My mom is on their side 100 per cent, protecting them, and wanting to convince me of their lies that they can’t afford to pay.

The two will never leave since they live like they’re in a five-star hotel - Mom cooks their food, makes their beds, irons their clothes.

I do everything for myself, pay my bills and go to school.

How do I put an end to their taking advantage of me?

- Overwhelmed and Resentful

This is a serious matter between you, your parents, and if necessary, a lawyer.

Even if you could evict your siblings (unlikely, against Mom’s will) they still won’t be paying more, and your expenses would be the same.

It’s unclear how your parents were able to “purchase” this home; however, if you signed a document that named you as the mortgage guarantor – knowing your siblings’ situations – you allowed yourself to be put in this position.

Now you need a lawyer’s advice on how to change your responsibility for all those bills. To get out of the deal, you may be able to legally force the sale of the house, move independently, and help your parents buy themselves a smaller, home they can afford.

However, you need to be able, emotionally, to handle the possibility of a major family rift.

My boyfriend of eight months is uncomfortable that I’m still good friends with my ex-boyfriend. I ultimately agreed to only see him with my boyfriend present.

Recently, he stopped by a bar where my boyfriend, his friends and I were hanging out. My guy stormed off; his friends were ready to get violent and I spent the night answering their interrogation. My ex left after an hour because he felt unsafe.

Now my boyfriend wants me to give up my friend forever but I disagree.

Nor do I think his buddies should be so involved in our relationship.

- Confused

Think through whether this current guy is really The One.

Also, be honest with yourself about whether he has some reason to be jealous… e.g. if your ex still carries lingering feelings (easy for another guy to spot).

In fact, it wasn’t too smart of your ex to hang in, once he saw he’d encountered the gang on your boyfriend’s “turf.”

However, if your boyfriend has a general tendency to control your friendships and is also easily influenced by his pals, you may be looking at similar problems for years to come, over any male you encounter regularly, such as colleagues, bosses, neighbours, etc.

Treat this incident as an important warning sign that you need to decide if you’re in for the long-term, or it’s time to get out of this relationship.

My son and his wife drop their children off at my home once weekly, but they’re always “too busy” for me to visit at their place.

- Unwelcome

Tell them you don’t need to be treated as a guest. “Too busy” may be their honest answer if they both work. And, that weekly drop-off could be their only time alone together.

Enjoy the kids – their parents obviously appreciate your help.

I’m 14, there’s a girl on my swim team that I like and am friends with, but her friend keeps shunning me and telling me to buzz off. I don’t want to get into a fight with her friend, but I don’t want to just let her win.

- Unfair

Her friend’s attitude is a good sign: She’s most likely jealous, which means she’s aware that the girl you like is interested in you, too.

Surprise them both by suggesting the three of you get together after swim practice, to talk, walk home, etc.

Be clear that you’re not flirting with the friend, just that you aren’t trying to come between them.

It may take a few tries of ignoring her friend’s off-putting remarks, to get that girl relaxed enough to leave you alone so you can talk to or be alone with the one with whom you’re trying to connect.