My son’s girlfriend has taken over his life and I fear he’s being suffocated
Dear Annalisa, A year ago, our almost 18-year-old son began seeing a girl, who is a year older than him and is his first ‘real’ girlfriend. Soon he stopped…
My husband unfairly blames me for our son’s eating disorder
Dear Annalisa, My husband and I have two teenage boys, the youngest being 14. Our younger son has struggled with anxiety and low self-esteem, issues that…
I want to be a stay-at-home mum, and feel angry that society won’t let me
Dear Annalisa, I’m 30, and have had two abortions in the past three years with two long-term partners, due to not being in a secure financial…
Can it be safe for my five-year-old granddaughter to ride pillion on her dad’s motorbike?
Dear Annalisa, My daughter’s ex-husband has decided that it is safe to take my granddaughter (who is just five) on the back of his motorcycle. He has…
My daughter rarely bathes and her room is smelly, but says she doesn’t care
Dear Annalisa, My 15-year-old daughter has zero sense of personal hygiene. She currently has about a dozen used sanitary towels dropped on the floor, with food wrappers and rubbish.…
I’m yearning for a third child to recreate the large, loving family I grew up in
Dear Annalisa, I have a strong attachment to my family – in particular my three siblings. We live in different countries but the bond is strong. I have two children, aged…
Should my partner and I share our love letters from previous relationships with our children?
Dear Annalisa, We are in our mid-80s and have been together for 12 years. Our relationship journeys to our meeting point were utterly different. My partner has two marriages behind her…
I’m finding it hard to accept that I may never have a daughter
Dear Annalisa, I gave birth to my second son several months ago. In my first pregnancy I had no preference and was excited to find out…
‘I’m proud of my daughter but not her sloppy lifestyle: should I intervene?’
Dear Annalisa, I have a beautiful daughter who I think is marvellous. She’s in her late 30s and has just completed a master’s degree and bought her…
How do I stop my anxiety spilling over into my children’s playdates?
Dear Annalisa, I’d like your advice navigating my children’s social lives along with my anxiety. My children are 10 and eight. I did not have an easy…
Annalisa Barbieri 
You must be logged in to post a comment.