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My ex is forcing her new relationship on our kids

DEAR DEIDRE: MY ex is forcing her new relationship onto our kids and I’m worried about them.

They don’t seem to be handling it well – my teenage daughter’s anxiety is getting worse and my son seems angrier than ever.

But her priorities seem to have shifted in the last few months
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But her priorities seem to have shifted in the last few months

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We split up five years ago. She’s 46, I’m 44 and our kids are 15 and 12.

Our break-up was amicable and our focus was on our kids.

But her priorities seem to have shifted in the last few months.

She met her new partner in January and within two weeks introduced him to the kids. By month three they were all living together.

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I recently told them I’d started seeing someone but promised I wouldn’t introduce them until they were ready.

They seemed to be over the moon that it would still be the three of us.

DEIDRE SAYS: It can be hard for children when their parents find new partners as they can worry about seeming disloyal, or being pushed out by new partners.

The best thing you can do is talk to your kids and ask them how they are coping.

Although bear in mind they may not want to say anything negative about their mum to you. In which case ask if they would like to talk to someone impartial – like a counsellor.

My support pack will help you find someone local.

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