Speed forward a few years and imagine it’s your baby in this situation, says Mariella
The dilemma I feel awful saying this, but I’m holding loads of resentment towards my young stepson. I met his father when the boy was only two. For years we’ve all had a great relationship, but recently I gave birth to our baby, and I found I was becoming less tolerant of his son throughout my pregnancy and started to dread him staying with us. My partner is unaware of this, as I hide it very well – I’m sure this is my issue. But I found I was at breaking point today. We’re in the last days of my partner’s paternity leave and his ex rang to say his son wasn’t well and asked if we could look after him.
I cried for an hour (again hidden from my partner) as this time is so special. There seems to be nothing wrong with the boy and I believe she just couldn’t be bothered to take him to school when she knew we were at home.