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
stepfamily christmas
Last year we had our first Christmas together as a new family – me, my new partner, his son and my son and daughter. It was a disaster… Continue reading
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Keeping Children Away
I’m 34 and have been divorced for a year. I’ve known my 27 year old boyfriend for nearly two years. We get on brilliantly and so does he and my two sons, who’ve known him from the beginning of our relationship. I’ve always been honest and truthful with them, right through the divorce. But my boyfriend’s ex has always insisted on telling his three children that he is working away from home and refuses to let them know about me or meet my kids. Continue reading
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Grandparents and Discipline
My mum looks after my 2-year-old son while I’m at work. It fits in well with my work hours and she enjoys spending time with her grandson. However, she has very different views on discipline to me and seems to contradict what I do. How can I make her respect my views and let me bring up my son my way? Continue reading
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Making Friends
My daughter started Secondary School in September but she doesn’t seem to have made any friends yet. Is there anything I can do to help or should I just let her get on with it? Continue reading
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Pocket Money
My son’s friends seem to get much more pocket money than him. I’ve tried to explain to him that I just can’t afford to give him any more but he still asks for more – what can I do? Continue reading
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Talking about Sex
I want to talk to my teenage son about sex but every time I try he gets so embarrassed and walks away – how can I make it less embarrassing for him? Continue reading
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