I like one of my pupils

I’M 24, a teacher and have become attracted to one of the sixth-form boys I teach.

He’s very attractive and very bright and while I’m not supposed to favour one pupil over another, I know I’m spending more time than I should helping him. I don’t think anyone suspects how I really feel, and I know it’s wrong and that there’s nothing I can do about it, but my feelings for him are genuine and I wish I could take them further. What can I do? - DL

Fiona says: Do nothing. There is no easy way around this, but you are his teacher and, as a student, he’s vulnerable, while you’re in a position of trust.

There are both ethical and professional boundaries here and they’re not easy to surmount.

Even once he’s left school, you’ll still be the person in authority and so will face any and all of the consequences if anything went wrong. You run the risk of ruining your career, so put some distance between yourself and this boy as soon as possible.

Kid's won't accept him

I LEFT my husband two years ago after 15 unhappy years together.

We were married for 22 years and while the first seven years were wonderful, it turned very sour.

By then, though, I had the children, so didn’t leave until my youngest was 18.

I am now with another man who has since become the man I want to be with for the rest of my life.

He is loving, sincere and kind and feels the same way about me, but my independent adult children cannot accept what I have done.

They refuse to speak to my new partner and on those rare occasions when they’ve met, they’ve been rude and unpleasant.

It’s not as if their father cares - he has a new partner - so why can’t they just be happy for me? - TT

Fiona says: Even adult children can find it difficult to accept that parents have their own physical and emotional needs.

That said, there is no excuse for their rudeness to your partner and their unpleasantness to you.

I think it’s time for some tough love. Tell them that whilst you will always love them, you love your partner too and are no longer prepared to accept the way they’ve been behaving.

It may take a little while, but hopefully they’ll come around in the end.